MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Community members from around the station gathered at the 1st Marine Air Wing Vietnam Memorial across from the Crossroads here to repaint and beautify the site Sept. 19.
Genesis Lodge No. 89 Free and Accepted Masons led and organized the beautification project which motivated nearly 20 volunteers to spend their Saturday afternoon upkeeping the monument.
“The significance of this monument is to honor all those that fell in the Vietnam War,” said Byron Keys, memorial beautification project organizer. “It’s important that we never forget. If any of us was to fall in Iraq or in Afghanistan and there’s a memorial built, we hope as the years pass that that monument is not neglected. So it’s all about just remembering those that came before us.”
The monument, constructed May 26, 1972, is inscribed with the names of 493 1st MAW service members who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.
Along with the names inscribed on the monument are the words, “In memoriam, with grateful remembrance for those who gave their lives before us, we dedicate this plaque and our lives that their sacrifice may never be in vain. We commend their souls to Almighty God. May all who read these words rededicate their lives to the preservation of freedom which others have bought for us.”
The volunteering servicemembers repainted the torii erected at the monument to honor the memory of the fallen service members.
Keys said he hopes the volunteers never forget the sacrifices made by servicemembers of any past or present war.
Many of the volunteers were happy to donate their efforts in memory of their predecessors but were also glad to be given the opportunity to help upkeep the station they live in.
“It’s a good thing to do for base beautification,” said Deron Ross, a memorial beautification project volunteer. “What else to do but volunteer on your free time. It’s better than doing anything else.”
Ross said he gets personal gratification by volunteering and takes pride in what he does with his time.
“There should be more of this,” said Ross. “Not just on a large scale but small things like walking around base picking up trash. I mean, people should get out more and pitch in to help out with anything on base.”
Some of the volunteers felt while a lot of volunteer work is done in town, the station is sometimes forgotten.
“We’re in Iwakuni to support the Japanese in any way we can, and I know we do a lot of things out in town, but charity starts at home,” said Keys. “We’ve got to take care of us before we can think of someone else. We can’t forget about us."