Airmen leave a green thumbprint on the environment

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
A local program here brings hope for many more generations to keep Okinawa as it should be, "Chura Shima," meaning a beautiful island. 

The recreational department on Kadena launched a program a few months ago called, HOPE. This voluntary program, Heroes of Planet Earth, invites military personnel in an initiative to clean up, restore, and reclaim common outdoor venues used by guests of this host nation. 

"The bottom line is to leave a positive fingerprint wherever we go," said Robert Baker, 18th Force Support Squadron director of recreation. 

The program held its first clean-up at the Kadena Marina in February with 88 volunteers and gathered 2,000 pounds of concrete, 500 pounds of scrap metal and 18 tires. The next clean-up was in March at the Chibana recreational area with 52 volunteers picking up two-and-a-half tons of trash. The biggest turnout was at Taguchi beach with more than 200 volunteers removing 2,500 pounds of trash, foliage and other waste. The most recent was June 6 with more than 70 volunteers picking up trash around the perimeter fence line outside of Kadena Air Base from gate 3 to gate 1. Mr. Baker estimated the group collecting 1,000 pounds of trash. 

"It is important for Americans to support the HOPE program," said Capt. Jody Gilzene, 18th Wing assistant staff judge advocate. "This is an opportunity to show the local community that we appreciate and are concerned about the area in which we live."

Mr. Baker said he hopes this new program to continue in the name of conservation and community cohesion by giving back to our most valued resource, planet earth.