US Navy Sailors and Marines congregated on the USS New Orleans to take advantage of the chaplains’ support for Ash Wednesday.  Navy Chaplain (Lt) Paul Armstrong supported the practice of the sailors’ and Marines’ religious beliefs:

“Freedom of religion is one of our constitutional rights,” said Armstrong. “What we do is … give [service members] an option to practice their faith.”

The US military recognizes there is value in giving its troops the ability to practice their faiths, even in locations that require special effort to do so.  A young Marine helped explain why:

“It feels good because it keeps my faith up and keeps my day going even if I’m going through hard times,” said [Lance Cpl. Lance Bonney]. “I try to participate as much as I can, whether it’s bible study or a service.”