Misawa servicemembers, Japanese clean beach, port

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --  Combat boots were swapped for rubber galoshes when Misawa Airmen, Sailors and their family members cleaned up Misawa's port and beach area April 11 here in advance of Earth Day.

Volunteers from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron and Misawa Fishing Association organized the 13th annual ecological event that brought out nearly 300 base members and local Japanese residents who amassed approximately four tons of trash.

The base first proposed the event in 1997 to encourage a public interest in protecting the environment, and promotes bilateral interests with the Japanese community.

The beach and port cleanup is one of the largest environmental awareness projects held here during the year that brings the community together to work, said 1st Lt. Matthew Adams, the 35th CES deputy chief of environmental element. The cleanup impacts everyone by providing a safe, garbage-free environment for people to enjoy.

In the past two years, the cleanup project has been recognized countrywide by the National Association of Fisheries Infrastructure in Tokyo, the Misawa City Office and Misawa Fishing Port.

Not only did servicemembers attend the joint effort, but also made the occasion a family affair by bringing along their children who dragged along plastic bags for trash and hunted down even the smallest pieces of debris with their parents.

"We decided to take my girls because we had been looking for something to do as family and the port clean up gave that opportunity," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Vargas, a 35th Fighter Wing civil law paralegal, who brought his wife, Lisa and their two daughters, Jordys and Jenna. "We got to spend some time together and help out the community. Overall, it was a good experience. The weather was nice, a lot of people came out, and my girls really enjoyed themselves."