Photo By Sgt. Isaac Ibarra | Residents of the Reimei No Sato Handicap Facility visit the Post Exchange food court...... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan — Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines Regiment, reunited with residents of the Reimei No Sato Handicap Facility Oct. 1 at Camp Hansen.
The partnership between the Marines of the battalion and the residents has been ongoing for almost 30 years, according to U.S. Navy Lt. Christopher Grady, the chaplain with 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The Marines and sailors strengthened this relationship with the residents by inviting them on base.
“Today we brought residents of Reimei No Sato (on base) to boost morale and provide a little physical therapy for them by bowling,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew M. Madonia, a religious program specialist with the battalion.
The event kicked off with food at the Post Exchange food court followed by bowling.
“In the military, there is the heart and the fist,” said Madonia, from Hamilton Square, New Jersey. “We go to war, but the other side of the military is goodwill, morale and community organization outreach.”
This event gave Marines, sailors and locals the opportunity to step away from their daily routines and enjoy each other’s company.
“Having the locals come out brings a warm feeling to the heart,” said Sgt. Paul A. Alvarado, an electrical equipment repair specialist with the battalion. “It’s a unique experience not only for them but for us as well.”
Laughs filled the bowling alley and the service members took great pride in spending time with the residents, according to Alvarado.
“My favorite part was teaching one of the members how to bowl a little bit better today,” said Alvarado, from Slidell, Louisiana. “Every month I actually do community relations like this and help them out, it brings great pride.”
The facility residents were invited to the bowling alley last year, and it was a success, according to Grady, from Wichita Falls, Texas. This is the fourth time that members of Reimei No Sato visited the base.
“This is an ongoing relationship we have had with Reimei No Sato since the (1970s),” said Grady. “It’s not a one-time event. It’s something we aspire to do with Reimei No Sato to let them know that we’re their friends.”
| Date Taken: | 10.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2014 02:49 |
| Story ID: | 145092 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | ELIZABETHTOWN, KENTUCKY, US |
| Hometown: | FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | HAMILTON SQUARE, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Hometown: | SLIDELL, LOUISIANA, US |
| Hometown: | WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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