Misawa AB teams with city to clean port, beach

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Barnett
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Earth Day was flooded with volunteers during the 11th Annual Misawa Port and Beach clean-up on April 12.

"The port clean-up is the biggest Earth Day event of the year," said Ayako Suaikoshi, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron administrative specialist. "We want to keep people aware of Earth Day."

Run by volunteers, the clean-up work was done by a mix of local Japanese, Air Force, Navy, civilians and dependants from the base, as well as representatives from the Airman and Family Readiness Center, the base Commissary, AAFES and the Officer's Spouses Club.

"This year we picked up five tons of trash, which is very good," said Ms. Suaikoshi. "Last year, we could only get two tons of trash because of the weather. Two years ago eight tons of trash was cleaned up, the most ever."

The Misawa port and beach clean-up was originally started by Mr. Hajime Sasaki, 35th CES pollution manager, 11 years ago.

"PACAF's environmental section wanted us to do something special for Earth Day," he said. "Originally we cleaned up Misawa City Park, but it didn't really need it. The fish port needed it the most and the city wanted to help."

The city office and the fish port really appreciate the help, Mr. Sasaki added.

"That's why we keep doing it," he aid. "We appreciate the volunteers, when people participate in this activity. Without their help, we could not succeed for 11 years."

Other major Earth Day events include the salmon release that occurred March 22nd and the base beach clean-up on May 19 with Cummings Elementary school, the only on base event of the year.