374th LRS helps clean Mizuho community

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eric Summers
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Volunteers from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron and their family members joined the Mizuho community during the 25th Mizuho Town Annual Cleanup.

June is environmental month in Japan and during the cleanup Japanese citizens pick up trash and clean the streets and parks. This year the community invited the 374th LRS to help them with this project.

The cleanup began at the city's recycling center and continued down a local highway, running between the base and local community, ending at a local intersection in town.

"This program represents a great opportunity to show our friends and partners that we care about the community," said Maj. Timothy Bunnell, 374th LRS director of operations. "This is also a chance to reciprocate some of the great support we receive from the citizens and government of Japan."

Nine members from the Mizuho-Yokota Friendship Association (MYFA), including Shiochi Kurihara, president of the MYFA, helped Yokota members and local town residents during the event. He also thanked the volunteers for their support to promote good relations between the Mizuho and Yokota communities.

"My family and I volunteered for this event to help show citizenship and pride for the community where we live and to help build a stronger friendship with the Mizuho community," said Senior Master Sgt. Desmond Decaires, 374th LRS noncommissioned officer-in-charge of cargo management.

"It sends a positive message to the town of Mizuho that the base community is also part of the Mizuho community," said Sergeant Decaires.

The cleanup is one of many events where base personnel have the opportunity to interact with people living in areas surrounding the base.

"Yokota's continued effort to strengthen relations only deepens the friendship between us," said Masaoki Inomata, Mizuho Town vice mayor.

"I think any opportunity for personnel from the base to get out and interact, in a positive manner, with the local community helps foster relations," said Major Bunnell.

Volunteers collected around 8,774 pounds of trash and debris throughout the town during the cleanup.