Defenders host Gunsan City orphans

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alice Moore
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Members of the 8th Security Forces Squadron here hosted 17 children from a Gunsan City orphanage for an afternoon of bowling July 30. 

The event was another Good Neighbor Program initiative accomplished by members of the Wolf Pack. 

"We wanted to be able to host an event where we could get the children out to have fun," said Staff Sgt. David Wilson of the 8th SFS. "Being a part of something like this also helps both the Korean and American cultures have a better understanding of each other." 

Typically the squadron hosts an annual cook out for the orphans, but this year they wanted to do something additional by hosting an afternoon of bowling. 

"The base as a whole makes it a point to interact with the orphans in the local community," Sergeant Wilson said. "We normally host them once a year. This year, we thought it'd be a great idea to do something more." 

Sergeant Wilson said the afternoon wouldn't have taken place without a collective effort from all parties involved and at the end of it all the reward for hosting an event such as this comes from just being able to see the children having fun. 

"It's great just being able to stand back and watch them smile and interact with all of us," Sergeant Wilson said. "It's great to see them have a good day." 

Implemented across the peninsula in 2002, the United States Forces Korea Good Neighbor Program encompasses a wide variety of programs that actively engage local community, government, media business, university, school and military in order to provide public understanding and appreciation of the USFK mission on the peninsula. 

The program also stands as the cornerstone of successful Republic of Korea and United States relations.