Sailors in Buffalo lend helping hands

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Sailors visiting during Buffalo Navy Week took off in so many different directions in our community Thursday, that even we had a tough time catching up with them.

One of three U.S. Great Lakes Navy Bands conducted a music clinic at Transit Middle School at East Amherst. According to Kurtis Henderson, Musician 2nd Class, "The value of learning an instrument is, well invaluable. It impacts your ability to communicate with people. It impacts your ability to communicate emotions."

They may have even inspired a few young musicians to do some catching up.

"I haven't practiced in a long time over the summer, so I'm kind of rusty now," said Adam Aref, a student at Transit Middle School in East Amherst.

The outreach didn't stop there. Fourteen sailors volunteered to hang drywall and install piping for gas lines at a Habitat for Humanity house under construction on Vermont Street.

Petty Officer John Gibbons said this shows the U.S. Navy in a broader sense.

"This is a fine opportunity for shipmates to give back to the community in a fashion other than defense. There's a lot more to the Navy than what you see on television."

And their work gets the grade.

"They bring a good skill set and discipline. They are a very easy group to manage, they are very hard working. They're saving us what would be a couple weekends worth of work," said Dan Gallagher, Habitat for Humanity Site Supervisor.

Buffalo Navy Week continues Friday with more community outreach, but there's a much deeper message that these sailors want to convey.

"We'd love for them to know that we are present, we are here to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. We're here to make sure that their freedom is looked after and their best interest is looked after," Henderson added.

You can find a full list of activities happening during Navy Week here.