Team Shaw builds community pride in students

Photo By Staff Sgt. Krystal England | Airman 1st Class Josh Calhoun, 20th Force Support Squadron honor guard member, visits Wilson Drive Elementary School, Sumter, S.C., to speak to fourth graders about his job and his role in the community Sept. 6, 2012. Other members of the community joined him including representatives from law enforcement, the fire department, volunteer groups, the local government, education system, hospitals and Shaw Air Force Base as part of a program called My Community and Me. Calhoun is also a native of Newland, N.C.  

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES

09.11.2012

Story by Airman 1st Class Krystal England 

20th Fighter Wing

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Team Shaw airmen and Sumter community members volunteered to speak to fourth graders at Wilson Drive Elementary School Sept. 6, 2012.

The event at Willow Drive Elementary School was the first of program, called My Community and Me, which is scheduled to continue until Oct. 11.

My Community and Me entails community members going to different elementary schools and speaking to fourth grader students about their jobs and their roles in the community.

"They are getting to know some of the history of their community and how the local government is structured," said Howie Owens, downtown development manager and a volunteer at My Community and Me. "They will also learn how to be good leaders in the community and how to be good stewards of what they have."

"I think, for the children, it is a way for them to see a larger scope of what goes into building, maintaining and being a part of a community," said Staff Sgt. David Yarber, 20th Force Support Squadron honor guard member and another volunteer of My Community and Me.

Some of the community members that arrived in addition to Owen and Yaber were representatives of local law enforcement, the fire department, volunteer groups, the local government, the education system, hospitals and Shaw. They all gathered at the school to tell the students a little about what they do for the community.

"I came out today to represent Team Shaw and the U.S. Air Force and I hope, that the children understand that members of the base are a part of the community," said Yarber. "(I also hope to help) strengthen the bond and the ties between Team Shaw and the community."

Both Owen and Yaber agreed that they would continue to participate in the program.

"No matter what I do (in the future) I will always be happy to help," Owen said. "I think it is important for our community to have these kids build pride in their community."

• Date Taken: 09.11.2012
• Date Posted: 10.16.2012 09:13
• Story ID: 96219
• Location: SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, US