NT NETWORK
Margao: Some 60 US sailors and flyboys took time off from their furlough to do some community bonding in sun kissed Goa recently.

These sailors from the warships USS Shiloh and the USS Lassen, part of the Malabar exercises between the Indian and the US navies, painted 4 classrooms of the Batikar Model High School in Margao as part of the now ongoing Goa campaign.
Chaplain Michael Tagaloa from the USS Shiloh told media that for most of the sailors this was their first trip to the Goa and indeed India.
“The main effort (of this) is to do good work, to help develop community relationship,” he told media.
The sailors were accompanied by Consul – public diplomacy Ms Lynne Gadkowski and the US Counsul General, Mr Paul Folmsbee too paid a visit to the school.
Before beginning their painting, the crew handed over footballs, ceiling fans and a memento the school management. The memento was received by the school principal, Ms Kane in the presence of the school managing director, Mr Kamat.
Mr Kamat told the media after the function that he had been approached by the authorities asking them if they were willing to host the sailors around a month back and they had discussed all the modalities earlier.
Ms Lynne, interacting with the media said that this community bonding was a time honoured tradition whenever US ships visited Goa and was a part of the community relationship building.
She said that people-to-people contact promoted mutual understanding and was important in expanding ties between the US and India.
Chaplian Talgao also echoed the similar views, saying that the main thing was to go out into the community and “do good things.” “And also to experience the good things that India has to offer.”
American warships annually visit India for these Malabar exercises with this being the 14th time these were taking place. The Americans were of the opinion that these exercises fostered closer ties between the two countries and also improved the inter services compatibility between the two countries.