Woestina organized a large collection for the U.S.S. Miami before the Thanksgiving holiday, and third-grade students created a book about their perceptions of life on a submarine. The sailors stopped by to thank students for the care package and to teach them what life underwater is really like.

Executive Officer Michael Connor, second in command of the submarine, shared a slideshow about the history of submarines and their use by the U.S. Navy. He also talked about the U.S.S. Miami, a Los Angeles class submarine that is 360' long, 33' across and weighs 6,000 tons. He shocked students with the information that the roughly 150 people on the submarine have "about as much living space as [the Woestina] gym."

EO Connor was accompanied by Petty Officer Anthony Cefaratti, an Electronics Technician First Class, and Seaman Matthan Bird. Cefaratti has been a sailor for over 10 years and works with the ship's nuclear reactor. Bird has been a sailor for 2 years and specializes in electronics and computers. The three took turns talking about the roles they play on the submarine and answering students' thoughtful and often humorous questions, such as:

• What was your longest mission?
• Is it comfortable on the ship?
• What's it like being underwater for so long?
• Do you have TV? A Wii?
• What do you eat?
• Have you ever seen whales? Jellyfish?
• How do you survive from sharks?
• Are there any women on the submarine?

After their presentation, Connor, Cefaratti and Bird presented Principal Shari Lontrato with a U.S.S. Miami baseball cap. They also presented third-grade teacher Peter Guba with a framed picture of the U.S.S. Miami to thank his class for their special book.

The U.S.S. Miami was recently deployed on a six-month mission to the Middle East and is currently stationed in Groton, Conn.

Click here to view a story about the sailors' visit that aired on Fox 23 News.

Several Woestina students are pictured at right with U.S.S. Miami Petty Officer Anthony Cefaratti (left), Executive Officer Michael Connor (center) and Seaman Matthan Bird (right). Bird is actually a former Schenectady resident and graduate of Schenectady High School.