Friendship Saturday unites Kin Town, Marines

Photo By Cpl. Rebecca Elmy | A mother and her son pose for a picture Jan. 17 after purchasing donuts from Camp Hansen’s food court during the installations Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where local nationals are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. The community members visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rebecca Elmy/Released)  

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

01.17.2015

Story by Cpl. Rebecca Elmy 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP HANSEN, Japan - The Marines of Camp Hansen opened their gates to the citizens of the neighboring city of Kin Town on Jan. 17.

The event drew a small crowd of Kin residents waiting for the gates to open.

Marines and civilians on Camp Hansen put together the first Friendship Saturday last October to give the local community a chance to explore the installation’s facilities and eateries.

“Today’s attendance was better than the last Friendship Saturday we held here on Camp Hansen,” said Maj. Andrew A. Merz, the camp operations officer. “We purposely scheduled it on a Saturday due to community leaders informing us we would have a better turnout if we did it on a Saturday.”

Camp Commander Col. Sean M. McBride decided to host the friendship days between festivals to give the community more chances to visit the base, according to Merz.

“The thought process is that we want our neighbors to view us as part of the local community, not separate,” said Merz, from Lansing, Michigan. “We don’t want to be that mystery place next door. We want to be part of the local community. It’s just another community relations opportunity.”

Marines stood at the main gate assisting the locals and guided them in the right direction, according to Pfc. Darwin Rivera, a fire support man with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, currently assigned to camp guard.

“I like being able to come on base and know that the Marines welcome us as their neighbors,” said Assa Asano, a resident of Kin Town.

Camp Hansen personnel plan to continue hosting Friendship Saturdays to let more of the community enjoy what the base has to offer.

“My favorite part is getting the pizza from Pizza Hut,” said Asano. “We don’t have that kind of food here, and its privilege to come on base to enjoy it.”

Friendship Saturdays happen quarterly on Camp Hansen but, eventually, the camp commander wants to strive to hold these events monthly, according to Merz.

• Date Taken: 01.17.2015
• Date Posted: 01.28.2015 18:39
• Story ID: 152984
• Location: CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: LANSING, MI, US
• Hometown: MANHATTAN, NY, US