Photo By Sgt. Michael Iams | Marines with 7th Comm Bn. serve the staff of the Hikariga-Oka Nursing Home a...... read more read more
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KIN-CHO, Japan - Turkey, dressing and other trimmings filled the tables at the Hikariga-Oka Nursing Home in Kin-Cho where Marines and sailors from 7th Communications Battalion broke bread with the residents of the home Nov. 17.
Since 1994, the battalion, a part of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, has created a strong bond with the nursing home and routinely conducts events with residents of the home.
“I like helping elderly people,” said Lance Cpl. Austin G. McNabb, a motor transport mechanic with the battalion. My grandmother raised me to always respect and offer help to elders, he said.
The event was a good opportunity for the Marines to spend quality time with the local community members of Okinawa, and it gave the locals a chance to interact with and better understand the Marines, said Lt. Col. Carlos O. Urbina, the battalion’s commanding officer.
“We’re able to see and interact with the locals on a more personal level,” said Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Digiacomo, a field radio operator with the battalion.
Events like this give both cultures an opportunity to come together and better understand one another, added Digiacomo.
“We are very happy and proud to have kept a strong friendship with the Marines of 7th Communications Battalion on Camp Hansen,” said Ayako Ginoza, the director of Hikariga-Oka. “We are very appreciative of the volunteer yard work and Thanksgiving dinners.
Members of the nursing home routinely invite the Marines and sailors to a variety of events throughout the year, fostering a more concrete relationship, added Ginoza.
“We invite the Marines to several of our celebrations, such as moon viewing, annual summer festivals, Christmas parties and rice pounding, which is our New Year’s celebration,” she said.
“With Thanksgiving being a holiday very unique to America, we find it enjoyable to be able to share the important meaning behind it,” said McNabb.
“This dinner is the perfect metaphor for our appreciation,” said Urbina. “Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and that is what we are trying to do, give thanks to the people of Okinawa for allowing us to be their guests.”
| Date Taken: | 11.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2011 19:35 |
| Story ID: | 80454 |
| Location: | KIN-CHO, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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