Mass Communication Specialist Seaman L.E. Skelton, USS Gravely Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) — Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) were visited by a special guest during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony hosted by chief petty officer selectees, September 11.
Marc Garlasco, 9/11 survivor, spoke to the crew about his experience on September 11, 2001 while working in the Pentagon.
“I felt very violated, angry,” said Garlasco. “I lost friends both there and in World Trade Center. It was a tough thing, but we went to work the next day.”
Garlasco got underway aboard Gravely to study battle group interoperability during composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX).
“Being here was really fantastic,” said Garlasco. “To see the way the crew came together and memorialized 9/11.”
The chief selectees and the first class petty officer association hosted the remembrance ceremony with a 9/11 slideshow, cake and ice cream for the crew.
“We made announcements throughout the day over the 1MC marking different significant events that happened on 9/11,” said Chief (Select) Quartermaster David Kopp. “Somebody told us that Mr. Garlasco was a survivor and we are very grateful he spoke for us tonight.”
The ceremony began with words from Garlasco and ended with a prayer from Chaplain Lt. J. Potter before cutting cake.
USS Gravely is underway participating in COMPTUEX as part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.
