SINGAPORE - Sailors from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) visited the Catholic AIDS Response Effort (CARE) shelter for people with AIDS here, Nov. 2.

The shelter supports a number of women and children that have been separated from their families because of this affliction, with money, counseling and food. The shelter also provides job training, such as jewelry making, so that the women can begin to support themselves.

Three women from the shelter gave Sailors a tour of the facility made them lunch and taught them how to make bracelets and earrings -— demonstrating skills the women learned.

Lt. John Connolly, a Navy chaplain, thought this community service project was different from most.

"What I enjoyed about this project was the fact that it wasn't just painting fences, it wasn't just raking yards; it was interacting with the people," said Connolly.

The shelter's administrator and nursing manager, Geraldine Subramanian, appreciated the visit and the opportunity to develop an understanding in others about the plight these women and children are faced with.

Subramanian said it was heartening that the Sailors treated these women as individuals and opened their hearts to understand the sufferings, the stigma and discrimination surrounding people with AIDS. "When you come here with your heart, I think you all have won us a beautiful battle."