Children and staff from Naval Station Everett’s Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) program took a tour of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Feb. 21.

The DEFY program is a DoD, year-long program for children of service members that seeks to equip them with the knowledge and confidence to avoid drug, alcohol and gangs, and encourage them to set positive goals for their future.

The tour of Abraham Lincoln was part of the group’s monthly meeting and was intended to give the children a closer look at what their parents may do in the Navy, said Everett DEFY Operations Coordinator, Yeoman 1st Class Eddie Williams from Navy Region Northwest, Reserve Component Command.

“We wanted the kids to see what their parents experience while living and working on a ship,” Williams said. “It also helps them see the Navy in a way they may not have seen it before and think about it as an option for their future.”

Son of a Navy retiree and DEFY Junior Staff Mentor, Raymond Cancio, said the tour did help him have a better understanding of what his father did when stationed on Abraham Lincoln; it also made him think about his future.

“Everyone on the ship was walking around with purpose and a job to get done. I would like to be part of something that disciplined,” said Cancio.

While some thought about their futures, other just simply enjoyed the experience.

“There were a lot of stairs to climb and the food was really good,” said DEFY youth Aerail West, referring to the meal in the ship’s galley prepared by Abraham Lincoln Sailors.

The group’s tour guide for the day, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Segedy, said he was happy to be part of giving the children a closer look at the ship that, for some kids, takes dad or mom away for periods of time.

“I think when the kids get to see that each Sailor on the ship has an important role to play and that it all comes together as one unit, they realize that they can be very proud of what their parent does,” Segedy said.

“Seeing how my Dad lived when he was on the ship was really cool,” said DEFY youth Roma Cancio. “I never really knew how hard he worked on the ship.”

This year’s DEFY members will graduate this summer and a new cycle will begin with a two-week summer camp.