Atsugi Sailors take part in Centennial Yamato Station Clean Up

KANAGAWA, JAPAN

04.13.2017

Story by Chief Petty Officer Ben Farone 

Naval Air Facility Atsugi

This Thursday morning, like the fifty-seven Thursdays before, saw a bus load of Sailors from the nearby base unload into the square just outside the train station at 5:50 a.m. for a morning brief before the cleaning began. After the brief, the Sailors gathered their tools and set out to spruce up the area surrounding one of the areas busiest train stations.
The monthly event, which is organized by the Japanese group Let’s Learn from Clean Up Yamato, was the 100th iteration since the group began in 2009. The Sailors from Atsugi joined forces with their Japanese hosts in August 2012 and have attended 57 times since.
Sado Yamasaki, a representative from Let’s Learn from Clean Up Yamato says working together to maintain their shared neighborhood is the perfect way for the Sailors and Japanese volunteers to grow closer.
“This is a great way to build friendship between the U.S. Navy and the local community,” said Yamasaki.
Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Eric Laster, from Atlanta agreed.
“I like helping out. I like working together with the Japanese. If all they’re asking us to do is this to give back, I don’t mind helping out. It shows that we believe we’re all one in the same, we’re family, we’re a team and we work together to complete the task.”
Being able to take pride in a job well done as well as contributing to the cleanliness of his host nation neighborhood was the main motivation for Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Roberto Salas, from El Paso, Texas, who was attending the event for the 20th time.
“It’s fun to be part of an organization that cleans up the community here at Yamato station. It’s nice to see when I come back with my family and see that sharing the pride with the community of Yamato, to see how everybody here is making the station beautiful again,” said Salas.
Another veteran of the Yamato Station Clean Up is the installation’s Commanding Officer, Capt. John Bushey, from Spencer, Iowa. Having attended the event 25 times, Bushey explained how the side-by-side service bridged any potential language barrier.
“It definitely helps us know each other. Even though we’re not speaking the same language, we know we’re both giving back to the community and I think that shows a common partnership that spans human nature and good will.”
Additionally, Bushey noted that participating in events like this can provide Sailors with a sense of belonging while making a positive impact on the Navy’s presence in Japan.
“It’s also important that our Sailors realize they can easily get out and make an impact in this community as much as they could in their community back home,” said Bushey. “So, that makes us feel a little bit more at home here, as well as we contribute directly to the community. Our Japanese host nation partners can see that contribution and it engenders more trust and good will and I think that’s what’s most important.”

• Date Taken: 04.13.2017
• Date Posted: 12.26.2017 19:56
• Story ID: 260209
• Location: KANAGAWA, JP