Virginia Beach Rotarians embark on

USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98)

VIRGINIA BEACH , April 23, 2008 -- As part of the Navy's "Leaders to Sea" program, five Rotarians from the Virginia Beach Rotary Club embarked aboard the USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) for a daylight visit they will not soon forget.

Ensign Thomas Berenato, the ship's Communications Officer and Public Affairs Officer, served as the tour guide and did an outstanding job of explaining the crew's responsibilities and the guided missile destroyer's capabilities as it steamed out of Norfolk Naval Station.

The 300-member crew was in top form as they got underway for a three week deployment to exercise their systems and train with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Battle Group off the coast of Florida in preparation for a six-month deployment this summer.

Rotarian ship riders were: President Wayne McCoy (Senior Vice President, MSA Engineering), Pattie Phillips (Director of Finance, City of Virginia Beach), Dick Olenych (Owner, Spectrum Printing), Stuart Hale (Controller, Coastal Credit), and David Rourk (Owner, Rourk Public Relations).

Highlights of the tour included the: Combat Information Center, Damage Control Central, dinner in the Officers' Wardroom, a precision anchoring drill, and a great conversation with Commanding Officer Dean Vesely on the bridge.

Since the ship was moving down the coast, the group departed as evening set in by way of a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat). One Rotarian was heard saying, "Indian Jones has nothing on us," as he headed down the ship's side by ladder into the RHIB.

About Rotary

Rotary has over 1.2 million men and women members globally in over 32,000 clubs in 168 counties.  Rotarians provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in their businesses and lives, and strive to build goodwill and peace in the world.

David Rourk contact

david@rourkpr.com, (757) 478-0150

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