Students and the elderly teach sailors how to
dance traditional Thai dance at the Banglamung Home for the Elderly.
Manoon Makpol
It wasn’t all play and no work for the crew of the USS
Abraham Lincoln during its five-day shore leave in Pattaya as sailors and
marines spent part of their trip helping area seniors and orphans.
Joe Valecruz, naval attach้ for the U.S. Embassy in
Bangkok joined about 30 marines from the aircraft carrier at the Banglamung
Home for the Elderly Jan. 8 while another 50 servicemen and servicewomen
offered sports equipment and lunch at the Banglamung Children’s Home.
Students from Muangchon Management and Technical College
joined the U.S. Marines at the seniors’ home. Student representative Kasem
Hiranratanapong presented the seniors with 23,000 baht in rice, water and
games while the Americans offered up 15 packages of medical supplies.
The marines also cleaned the facility, swept leaves and
litter and played games with the seniors, who reciprocated with songs and
traditional Thai dances. Not to be outdone, some of the sailors responded
with break-dance moves.
At the orphanage, navy personnel donated footballs,
basketballs and other sporting goods to the home and treated the kids to
lunch.
Sailors take time to rake
leaves and clean up the grounds around the Banglamung Home for the Elderly.
Sailors relax with some of the
youngsters at the Banglamung Children’s Home.
How many pull-ups can you do?
See - I’ve been to the Hard
Rock Cafe Pattaya.
Sailors relax and enjoy
themselves in the Hard Rock Cafe Pattaya.
The sailors are invited to
participate in a Thai circle dance.
Seniors show off their talents
with songs and traditional Thai dances.
That’s a lot of leaves that
need to be raked.
The joy these people are
experiencing is obvious by the look on their faces.
Chai Yo! Kids from the
Banglamung Children’s Home thank the sailors for sports equipment, lunch,
but most of all, a fun day.
Students from Muangchon
Management and Technical College present the seniors with rice, water and
games.
