MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Annually, April 22 is a day set aside to honor Earth Day. People from all around the world do their part in making sure the earth is taken care of by participating in things from organic wine tastings to rallies dedicated to the awareness on the deterioration of the environment.
Approximately 30 Marines and sailors from around the station did their part by gathering to clean the seawall along Penny Lake here in celebration of Earth Day and Environmental Awareness Month April 28.
“(The seawall) is one area on the air station that doesn’t get much attention due to the difficulty of actually getting on the other side of the seawall and for security reasons, so this is one area we focus on for Earth Day,” said Chuck Hill, an environmental protection specialist with the environmental division and facilities department here.
Service members from Marine Aircraft Group 12, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Combat Logistics Company 36, and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participated in the event.
Service members spent their morning removing trash and debris from around the seawall in order to help maintain a presentable air station and remove nautical hazards along the area.
They not only picked up visible trash but also rummaged through the rocks and rotting wood to make sure the job was done well, concentrating on picking up plastics, old tires and other trash.
“There’s a lot of stuff out here,” said Hill. “It could be anything from styrofoam to plastic, big jugs, gasoline cans, wood, bamboo, old diapers, refrigerators, you name it, it’s out here.”
The seawall cleanup has been an annual event since the mid-1990s, but Hill reminded station members they should do their part during the entire year.
“The air station, for the most part, is pretty clean,” said Hill. “We do a lot of work on the air station year round and keep the air station looking really good.”
As the beautiful morning came to a close, the environmental division and facilities department invited participating service members to enjoy a barbeque, which was provided to show appreciation for the efforts during the cleanup. While Marines and sailors enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, refreshments and beverages after a long morning, some shared their feelings about the cleanup.
“This is my second year volunteering for the clean up,” said Pvt. Jonathon A. Ragin, an administrative clerk for H&HS.
“I volunteer because I believe that we really should keep the places we live in clean. As long as I know I’m out her doing something for the earth, that’s fine with me,” he added.