Kunsan Airmen host local community members

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alice Moore
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  In keeping with the spirit of the Good Neighbor Program, base members hosted approximately 60 local disabled Koreans for a traditional Thanksgiving meal here.

More than 20 volunteers from the Kunsan Company Grade Officer's Council, Team 5/6 and other volunteers from across the 8th Fighter Wing, hosted the local nationals for a day of games and food.

First Lieutenant Bill Chalmers, 8th Medical Group chief of laboratory services and lead coordinator, said the event was just one more way Kunsan is staying active in the community.

"This demonstrates to our host nation here that we are partners for life," Lieutenant Chalmers said. "We are here to do our mission, but this doesn't mean we can't take time to show the local community that we care. Giving back to the local community is an important part of being in the military. It strengthens our ties with our hosts."

The group came from a local chapter of the Salvation Army in Gunsan City.
The base has been supporting this chapter in one way or another since 2001, said Ms. Rosemary Song, 8th Fighter Wing, community relations chief.

"We usually go out to help clean their facility monthly," she said. "Beginning last year, we have invited this particular group to have a Thanksgiving meal. Since these people are mentally and physically disabled, being able to have this type of interaction has been therapeutic for them."

The day began with the volunteers from across the 8th Fighter Wing hosting the local nationals to various games at the base fitness center. From there, the group moved to the Sonlight Inn, a chapel sponsored facility, where Thanksgiving dinner was served.

Ms. Song also said that the 8th Fighter Wing makes it a point to reach out to the local community often whether it's helping out at the local orphanage, women's shelter or at the Salvation Army.

"The Good Neighbor Program is our way of being able to reach out to the community here. In this particular case, we're making it a point to share the Thanksgiving spirit with them," she said.

Volunteers for the event said it was a rewarding experience to be involved with this project.

"I'm here today because I love working with children and people," said Senior Airman Lindsay DeReadt, 8th Communications Squadron military postal clerk. "We're guests here in Korea and we should take the time and give back to our host nation communities."

"Giving back is something I used to do a lot back home," said Lieutenant Chalmers.
"This, in some way, has helped me to feel connected to my home and my family. With this we here also hope that this helped to strengthen ties with the local community and help take care of those in need."

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