Yokota residents 'bash' trash

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Volunteers gathered outside of the Visitor's Center at Fussa Gate to take part in the Great American Trash Bash here March 20.

Armed with tongs and garbage bags, the team of 40 Yokota residents made their way onto the streets of neighboring Fussa to pick up recyclables and  litter.

"We came out to pick up trash and clean up several streets in the area and to hopefully make a positive impression on the residents of Fussa," said Lewis Jones, event coordinator. "We all live here, we are not permanent residents, but we live here so we have a responsibility to make sure it looks nice."

Mr. Jones said the Yokota and Fussa partnership was on his mind when he decided to do something that he believed might benefit the communities.

"Yokota and Fussa have such a great relationship and we wanted to contribute to it," said Mr. Jones. "We also wanted to improve our community and try to make it a nicer place to live."

The group started the patrol at eight in the morning and didn't stop until they had completed their route, four hours later.

"It is good to get up and do something productive and help out the local community," said volunteer Airman 1st Class Marshall Browning from the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron.

Mr. Jones said he would like to make the "Bash" a quarterly event and hopes that, with enough participation, volunteers can clean more parts of Fussa.