Green ribbons serve as a safety reminder this holiday season

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Commanders, chiefs and first sergeants from the 35th Fighter Wing spread out across the Base Exchange and Commissary parking lots Wednesday, tying green ribbons on all the cars.

The ribbons are part of the Green Ribbon Campaign, an awareness campaign designed to encourage people not to drink and drive this holiday season. The campaign kicked off Wednesday and runs until after the New Year.

"The idea of the commanders tying one on is to facilitate conversation between the commanders and Airmen about the risk of drinking and driving, especially during the holiday season because it is such a high risk time," said Capt. Miranda Hancock, 35th FW safety office.

The campaign kick-off brought together commanders, first sergeants, chiefs and representatives from the safety office and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program. Col. T.J. O'Shaughnessy, 35th Fighter Wing commander, said he was pleased to see such a big turn-out.

"This really shows how much our leadership cares about the safety of their people," he said. "This campaign is a great cause because the green ribbon on the antennae serves as a visual reminder to keep the roads safe by not drinking and driving. Misawa has done a great job of reducing the number of drinking and driving incidents, but the goal is to get that number down to zero."

Airmen are encouraged to have a plan before going out to drink. A plan can be calling someone for a ride, having a designated driver, taking a taxi or using the Misawa Community and Services Against Drunk Driving, or MCSADD. MCSADD is always looking for individuals to volunteer and join a great cause, according to Colonel O'Shaughnessy. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact their first sergeant.

"The base will always find a way to get you home," said Colonel O'Shaughnessy. "A phone call to a supervisor or first sergeant asking for a ride is better than the phone call they are going to get when you drink and drive and injure yourself or someone else."

As a final note, Colonel O'Shaughnessy wants to remind people of the consequences of drinking and driving.

"When you choose to drink and drive, you not only put yourself at risk, but you put our families and everyone else on the road at risk."