Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Children from the local community watch as the tree outside Gate Two on Camp Hansen is...... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan - Marines, sailors and family members shared American culture with their Japanese neighbors during Christmas tree lighting ceremonies at Camps Hansen and Courtney Dec. 1.
On Camp Hansen, service members joined with the residents of Kin Town, located outside the camp, to celebrate the holiday season by lighting the Christmas tree at Camp Hansen’s main gate.
The ceremony began with a multiple-song performance by members of the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band. Audience members then sang holiday carols. Marines also handed out hot cider, fresh-baked cookies and Okinawa-style doughnuts.
Kin Town’s fire marshal and vice mayor and Hansen’s camp commander spoke at the ceremony.
Marines, sailors and citizens of Kin Town came together to setup the tree at this event which was hosted by the Kin Town Chamber of Commerce, said Col. David P. Olszowy, Camp Hansen camp commander and commanding officer of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.
“It is through their initiative, hard work and generosity that we have this spectacular display to help us celebrate the holiday season,” said Olszowy.
“The tree represents the friendship that Camp Hansen and Kin Town hold,” said Tatsuhiro Igei, Kin Town vice mayor.
“The Marines and sailors on Camp Hansen are far from home and family this holiday season, but we are not alone,” said Olszowy. “We have our Kin Town neighbors to help us celebrate with. We sincerely appreciate their generosity, goodwill and friendship symbolized by this tree.”
The Christmas tree lightening on Camp Courtney was also representative of the friendship between Courtney and its surrounding communities, said Scott Flagg, Camp Courtney’s deputy director.
The tree, which is actually numerous strand of lights flowing down the sides of the electricity tower just inside Camp Courtney’s main gate, is possible thanks to a cooperation between the Okinawa Electric Power Corporation limited and Camp Courtney, Flagg said.
Events like this which bring the U.S. military and Okinawan communities together are important, Flagg said.
“This is a way for us to share a bit of American culture with our Okinawan neighbors,” he said.
Courtney has been sharing this event with the local communities for 11 years, added Ichiro Umehara, Courtney’s community relations specialist.
For the actual lighting of the tree, American and Okinawan children crowded around a control panel of buttons so they could all help push the buttons that turned on the strands of lights.
“That was awesome. It was fun,” said Wyatt Reves, 10, one of several Cub Scouts with Troop 110 at the event.
The two ceremonies at the two camps were also a way to bring a small piece of home to the Americans living here, said leaders at both camps.
The Christmas and New Year’s season represents a special time of year, said Olszowy.
It is a time to cherish family, honor old friendships and create new relationships, and it is a time to celebrate and renew faith in mankind, prosperity and peace, he said.
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.05.2011 21:46 |
| Story ID: | 80928 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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