Trash today, gone tomorrow

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Eighty volunteers from Kadena Air Base showed up early to help better the community outside of Gate 2.

The Airmen showed up for a weekend trash pick-up event in the local Okinawan community. Participants spent part of their day cleaning up around neighborhoods and businesses frequented by Kadena residents.

“It's really important to me because I feel like I have a relationship with some of the people out here in the local community,” said Staff Sgt. Colby Davis, 18th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy technician, and event coordinator. “I've made friends with some of the locals here, and I feel like I want to do my part, and put out a good image for us here.”

Volunteers picked up litter along Gate 2 street down to Koza Music Town, and expanded their efforts several blocks to the north and south.

“I feel it's important for us, as military members, to be out here,” said Tech. Sgt. Zachary Kruly, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron flight engineer. “It shows we care, that we're here to set a positive image and play a positive role in the community.”

After several hours of clearing gutters and back streets and alleys, the participants collected 85 bags of trash. They then met up at Uechitoshi Ryokuchi Park to sort the litter before it was picked up by the city.

“It's important for us to do these kind of things to show respect for the local community in which we are trying to serve,” said Davis. “We're just trying to do our part to help clean up.”