Osan Airmen participate in local Arbor Day

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Naomi Evangelista
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Nearly 200 Koreans and Americans rolled up their sleeves together Thursday, put on gloves, grabbed shovels and dug their way into re-populating the mountainside of Jisan-dong, Songtan, with the traditional planting of plum trees.

The trees were planted in commemoration of the annual Arbor Day holiday, hosted by the Songtan Board of Council who invited 25 personnel from the base to join them in the community's celebration of nature and the environment.

"We are thankful the Songtan Branch Office invited Team Osan to share in this event," said Rebecca Westlake, 51st Mission Support Group deputy commander. "This was one of many events that shows the bond we share with our host nation."

The group of volunteers consisted of officials from the Songtan District Office, Pyeongtaek City Hall officials, U.S. Air Force servicemembers, students from Osan American High School and Korean citizens.

"Both government officials and citizens were mutually cooperated in planting trees," said Yun So Ku, Director of Construction and Forest Division of the Songtan District, Pyeongtaek City. "It is important to plant trees together and share common minds of how important trees are to us."

Servicemembers were thankful for the opportunity to help the community. Senior Airman Donald Frierson, a 7th Air Force communications specialist, said he volunteered Thursday because he wants "to leave Korea better than when I came." 

Airman first class Bobby Mahome, a tactical satellite communications apprentice at Osan Air Base, said his favorite part of the trip was planting trees and watching everyone work together.

"I look forward to continuing Arbor Day events as it helps ROK-U.S. cooperation, and it's a good time to do valuable things together," said Mr. Ku.

Arbor Day is a holiday celebrated all around the world in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. In the United States, the holiday is celebrated every last Friday in April but in South Korea, the holiday is celebrated on or around April 5. The holiday became public in Korea in April 2005, in an effort to restore the forests that had been ravaged by the Korean War.