Students from Ocean View Elementary wanted to adopt a tall ship for OpSail, and when they saw the pictures of what was expected in Norfolk, they picked the Gloria.
It is the Grand and showy Gloria, Colombia's national training ship crewed with sailors who sang in the rigging.
The students spent weeks learning about Colombia. Led by the school principal, a small group of selected students waving Colombian flags toured the ship. But the crew said no. Why not, the crew asked, bring all the kids aboard. All 200 of them! For a lesson unlike any they have ever had.