Photo By Cpl. Christopher Johns | Col. John Farnam, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., commanding officer, takes...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Marines, Sailors, families and civilians with Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., took part in the fifth annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month Walk aboard the installation, April 29.
The walk, which helped raise awareness to all aboard the air station, began in The Great Escape parking lot and wove through the main roads to the air station’s parade deck.
“In the Marine Corps the focus is on sexual assault, and us getting a handle on it is of the utmost importance,” said Col. John Farnam, MCAS Miramar commanding officer. “We’ve had a number of different events throughout the month with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing that have highlighted this, and this walk is another way to touch on another segment of the installation.”
The walk allowed for participants and spectators to reach heightened states of awareness and education – a level Farnam believes is crucial.
“When people are at a heightened state of awareness and education, the real changes can begin,” said Farnam. “Miramar is our community, and this is our community standing up together against this crime and saying, ‘no, this is not going to happen here.’ We’re unified against sexual assault and together we can make this end. This walk is a physical show of how we feel.”
While the walk held meaning to some as a way to raise awareness to help stop or prevent further sexual assaults, others saw it as a way to support victims and show they matter too.
“It means a lot because it shows how much people are being educated about sexual assault and that they care,” said Greg Nelson, a veteran Marine, guest speaker for the walk and sexual assault survivor. “As a survivor, a lot of times you feel like people don’t understand, but when you see a lot of people come together you realize that there is support out there for you – you aren’t alone. There are people out there who understand, people who want to help you and see you succeed and overcome what happened.”
Regardless of reputation, grade, gender, beliefs or the color of their skin – a victim of sexual assault is still a person, explained Nelson. They don’t need judgment, they need help.
Installation leadership wanted to provide help and education at any and all levels – even to those who are still new to the air station.
“I grew up around sexual assault and domestic violence among other things, so it’s good to see the other side of how these crimes are dealt with,” said Pfc. Hector Mantano, an administrative clerk with the Installation Personnel Administrative Center. “Leaders do what they do from the front; that’s what we are taught from the very beginning. To see our leadership out here showing their support and that they care is an amazing thing. We all come together, regardless of rank, age or creed to support our brothers and sisters who need us – that’s what matters most to me, and I’m sure it means a great deal more to them.”
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2014 17:26 |
| Story ID: | 128317 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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