Yokota’s First Four helps with local community clean-up

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  More than 60 residents from Yokota participated in the Clean-Up Fussa Day event April 15, hosted by the Yokota First Four, an organization for the first four enlisted ranks on base.

To show their support and involvement in the local community outside the base in Fussa City, Japan, participants picked up trash and debris, covering nearly a seven-mile stretch in less than an hour.

"We decided to cover the areas between the Fussa gate and the Fussa train station because a lot of people travel through those areas," said Yoko Suganuma, a member of the 374th Communications Squadron and a co-coordinator for the event. "We wanted to clean the areas where Yokota Airmen and their families visit and shop."

Another important member in the clean-up event was Airman 1st Class Gregory Wallace, a 374th CS network administrator and president of the First Four organization. As a co-coordinator for the project, Wallace volunteered many hours in planning the event.

"I thought this event was going to be quite the undertaking when we first started planning it," said Wallace. "But once we got event information scheduled, it was just a matter of asking for volunteers to help out."

Participants split into four separate groups in order to cover more ground throughout the city. Since the event occurred during the middle of the day, numerous Fussa City residents were able to see the efforts of the Yokota members who were cleaning and collecting trash around their houses and businesses.

"While we were walking the clean-up route, many of the local residents stopped and thanked us for what we were doing," said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Ferry, 374th CS network administrator. "I think it portrays a positive image if the residents of Fussa City see the Yokota community doing our part to help keep the streets clean."

For Wallace, this clean-up helped strengthen the bond between Yokota and the Fussa City community.

"The clean-up's visibility let people know that Yokota members are out there doing good things for the Fussa City community," he said. "We're hoping to make this a reoccurring event."