Freedom Visits Young Patients, Brings Caps for Kids

U.S. Navy Releases

BOSTON (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) visited patients at Massachusetts General Hospital Dec. 6 and delivered Navy ball caps as part of the "Caps for Kids" program.

The Sailors spent the day with children throughout the east pediatric wing of the hospital and offered ball caps from various commands. Caps for Kids is a Navywide program administered by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO).

Dressed in service dress uniforms and dress blue uniforms, Freedom Sailors exchanged handshakes with the children and shared a few sea stories.

"Just having the opportunity to talk with kids and putting a smile on their faces was really awesome," Mineman 1st Class (SW) Christian Siangco said.

In one of the rooms a young boy was being treated for stomach pains. He was greeted by Information Systems Technician 1st Class (SW) Shaun Smith with a Fighting Redcocks of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 ball cap.

The young boy thanked the Sailor and smiled while reading a little note inside the brim of the hat from the command.

"I enjoyed the visit at the hospital, and there isn't a thing I wouldn't do to cheer kid ups, especially when they're feeling down unfortunately in situations like this when your cooped up here," said Smith.

In the hallway Chief Quartermaster (SW) Joseph Radford presented a cap to a young patient who hopped out of his bed to see what was going outside his room. Radford said he had a good time socializing with the children, which was something he was really looking forward to doing during the ship's port visit in Boston.

"The trips we make interacting with the public and especially with our youth are important," Radford said. "Because we as Sailors have more of an influence on those who are younger than in their mid-20s, and they are our future in what the will world will become tomorrow."

For more news from Freedom, visit www.navy.mil/local/surflant. -

Story Number: NNS081211-02 - Release Date: 12/11/2008 4:24:00 AM