Boston Navy Week: Sailors clean up war memorials in Back Bay Fens

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) – As part of Boston Navy Week, visiting sailors volunteered to clean war memorials in the Back Bay Fens.

During Boston Navy Week, between 50 and 75 sailors from across the country volunteer throughout the region, engaging in the community and discussing why the Navy is important to Boston.

This year’s Navy Week is the first in over 10 years to be held in Boston and the surrounding area.

On Friday, soldiers volunteered to clean up war memorials in the Back Bay Fens.

The Fens are home to the World War II Memorial, as well as the Korean and Vietnam War memorials.

Dennis Guy, first officer of the future submarine USS Massachusetts, said it was important for the volunteers to help the local community in this way.

“This is something that’s important to them. We can give back to the community in many different ways, not only to the (members) who are deployed and defending that freedom and democracy around the world, but also here locally to the community that we serve.”

Toshia Soapes, the Yeoman Chief Petty Officer of the future submarine USS Massachusetts, helped clean up Boston’s war memorials on Friday.

She said the soldiers were grateful for Boston and the welcome they received here and wanted to give something back to the city.

“Everywhere we went there was so much hospitality and (people said) ‘Thank you for the service.’ In fact, (people) from other countries have come up to us and commented on submarines as well. We are just grateful,” she said.

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Boston Navy Week runs through July 7. On Friday evening, there is a public brass band concert on Castle Island and a concert at the JFK Library.

WBZ NewsRadioby James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reported.