Aci Castello mayor thanks Sicily based Marines for beach clean-up

Photo By Cpl. Jad Sleiman | Aci Castello mayor, Filippo Drago, presents Lt. Col. David L. Morgan with a certificate of appreciation Dec. 15 at city hall for the beach clean-up efforts of his Marines. More than 20 Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12 Marines spent Dec. 3 picking up litter along a nearby stretch of coast, hauling away more than 60 bags of trash.  

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, ITALY

12.15.2011

Story by Cpl. Jad Sleiman 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Sicily-- The mayor of a seaside Sicilian town presented the commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12 with a certificate of appreciation Dec. 15 for the beach clean-up efforts of his Marines.

Aci Castello mayor, Filippo Drago, met with Lt. Col. David L. Morgan and a half dozen unit volunteers at city hall to present the award. More than 20 Marines spent Dec. 3 picking up litter along a nearby stretch of coast, hauling away more than 60 bags of trash.

“You really set an example for the people on how to take care of the environment,” Drago told the Marines, noting that the nearby city of Catania has had to hire workers to accomplish similar results. The unit's volunteer work also coincided with the start of a city-wide clean-up effort, he said.

“Anywhere the Marines go we want to be excellent citizens and excellent neighbors,” said Morgan, adding that his Marines would be ready if the community needs a hand in the future.

The roughly 130 Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-12 arrived aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella in October and are tasked with conducting training partnerships with African militaries dealing with regional terror threats or instability.

• Date Taken: 12.15.2011
• Date Posted: 12.19.2011 07:10
• Story ID: 81565
• Location: NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, IT