Photo By Yoshie Makiyama | Col. Jeffrey L. Hammond watches a child cross the road.... read more read more
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Col. Jeffrey L. Hammond, camp commander of Camps Foster and Lester and commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, his family, five Marines, and Camps Foster and Lester Community Relations Specialist, Hiroko Tomimura, filmed a book reading skit and provided road guard support at the crosswalk near Kitatama Elementary School July 6, 2021.
Despite the difficulty in interacting with local communities for over a year due to COVID-19 measures, Marines have been able to consistently help the children travel safely to school.
“No matter the weather, rain, wind, or storm, Hiroko-san comes to help us watch the children crossing the road every Tuesday and Thursday,” said Toru Yamashiro, the principal of Kitatama Elementary School. “She brings Marines with her and they are really helpful.”
The Marines have been helping the children safely get to school since 2017, only stopping briefly when the school was closed or COVID clusters sprung up among Marines in Okinawa. However, Tomimura wanted to do more. She came up with the idea to have volunteers read books in English and act out the story on camera. Those who volunteer as road guards will stay and act out a skit to be recorded.
“I saw the information on Oki News Today (Marine Corps Mass email distribution) and talked to Hiroko about today’s activity. I have been a road guard before and it was good to see children crossing the road safely,” said Hammond. “Also I brought my two oldest daughters to have something to do in Okinawa before they start school in the U.S.”
Jennifer Hammond, wife of Hammond, smiled and said that during the lockdown two years ago, she could see the numerous activities the children have at school from their house. As a mother of three children herself, and her third time in Okinawa, she said that she wanted to do her part and help make sure children are safe on their way to school.
After all the kids made it to school, the volunteers moved to the Kitatama Community Center, where they filmed a skit from the book “Clark in the Deep Sea” by R. W. Alley.
Tomimura, quite an expert after having filmed four times now, prepared all the stage props, such as a green net to be used as seaweed, a water hose with a shower head as a sea snake, and a skateboard for the actor to lay on for smooth movement.
“I was nervous but also curious at first,” said Lance Cpl. Jasmine Dickson, an expeditionary airfield systems technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. “It would be nice if everyone could read the book one time before starting but now I know how it works, I can do better next time.”
Aurora Hammond, acting the role of the main character, and Laurel Hammond, taking the role of sound effects, enjoyed both crossing guard and the book reading and acting. “It was amazing. It was great to see all the children. They were cute and friendly,” said both about the earlier event at the crosswalks.
“It was a special opportunity. The skit was fun, too. I have never done acting and was nervous but it all turned out to be great,” said both. “Hopefully the children enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it,” said Laurel, the older sister. “We had a lot of fun making it, so I hope the children can tell through the video,” nodded Aurora.
Video recording for the book readings that followed the crossing guard duties has taken place since October 2020 and this was the fifth occurrence and given to the school and other local facilities near Camp Foster.
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 05.26.2022 23:23 |
| Story ID: | 421451 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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