Approximately 30 staff members from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter DILIGENCE, U.S. Consulate General Curaçao and the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron (EOS) located at the Forward Operating Location (U.S. FOL) on Curaçao volunteered their time to prepare a site for a garden at the Siloam Orphanage-Hospice in Soto on Saturday, February 26, 2011.
In step one of a larger project, the group worked as a team to clear brush and prepare the ground for planting. Building blocks were also moved to provide access to a well for future irrigation and to lay the groundwork for a storage building. The project’s end goal is to make Siloam Orphanage-Hospice more financially independent by enabling it to grow some of its own food.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter DILIGENCE stopped briefly in Curaçao en route to participating in a regional military exercise. The 429th EOS at the U.S. FOL supports multinational aircraft operations that conduct detection, monitoring and tracking missions supporting counter-drug efforts in the region. U.S. military and civilian personnel often volunteer their services in support of community projects and are pleased to partner with local agencies in reaching out to the people of Curaçao. U.S. Consul General Valerie Belon said, "these people-to-people community relations projects help us to really connect with the people of Curaçao at a grassroots level. Visiting Coast Guard and military service members enjoy working alongside local community members. Even with tough and sweaty working conditions, knowing their work makes a difference in the lives of others – particularly these needy children – gives community relations project volunteers a great sense of satisfaction”.