Yokota community comes together to aid Japan in a Rockin' way

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  More than 700 people gathered at Yokota Air Base's outdoor stage, Sakura Shell, to enjoy rockin' good music, good friends and good food during Tomodachi Stock 2011, here April 16.

Tomodachistock was a free benefit concert designed to provide a venue for Yokota residents to donate to the American Red Cross. The goal of the concert was to raise $24,000 for the Japan earthquake/tsunami relief effort.

"[As musicians] we have a talent and a lot of times we search out to do things to help ... but we never come together with other bands," said Lt. Col. Mike Edwards, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander and vocalist of Days Gone By. "We were able to bring all of our collective talents to do something that is just phenomenal, to give a little back to the community."

For the bands participating in this event, this was a way for them to do what they love,  while at the same time, give something to not only those affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami but also members of the Yokota community that have been working hard to support Operation Tomodachi.

"When you're a musician, you always seek to try to do positive things and the Stock is just one of those things," said Colonel Edwards.

The event was more than just bands playing. The American Red Cross volunteers were there collecting donations.

"The funds are being used for many projects by the Japanese Red Cross to include building and furnishing houses, and fund the logistics for the UN food program," said Marry Basiliere, senior station manager for Yokota's Red Cross.

Ms. Basiliere is grateful for the help received by the Yokota community.

"Right now, the Japanese people are suffering, anything we can do to assist would be great," said Ms. Basiliere. "It feels great to have the Yokota community pull together for our Japanese neighbors."

In addition to the Red Cross collections from the crowd, donations came from five private organizations that manned food booths at the event. They all donated half of their proceeds to the cause.

Danny Breazeale, Days Gone By bassist and one of the people who came up with the idea for Tomodachistock, said, "I didn't know what to expect; honestly, I thought only five people were going to show but everyone showed and they all seemed to be having a good time."

Through this rock-music-filled benefit concert, the Yokota American Red Cross was able to raise a total of $24,360 for relief efforts.