Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Royce Dorman | Santa Claus poses with students as parents and volunteers take photos Dec. 20 after...... read more read more
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URUMA CITY, Japan - Marines and sailors volunteered to give gifts Dec. 20 to students at the Midori No Sato School in Uruma City to bring Camp Courtney and the surrounding community together with a little help from Santa Claus.
During the event, Marines and sailors with various units on Camp Courtney shared their Christmas traditions with the children by singing Christmas carols.
“There is a lot of benefit to something like this,” said Lt. Cmdr. Aaron C. Carlton, a chaplain with Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. “The parents are going to be there, and they’re going to tell their friends and their family. It will be like a ripple effect of good will that radiates outward into the community.”
The effects the volunteers of Christmas past have had on the students are still seen to this day.
“Every year the children enjoy this event,” said Satoru Tobaru, director of the Midori No Sato School. “It’s an opportunity for them to meet Americans, and for them it’s exciting.” After the carols, Santa entered the room and captured everyone’s attention. He made his way to his seat, giving hugs and handshakes as he went. The children lined up to sit with Santa and receive gifts.
After Santa handed out all the presents, he made his exit, marking the end of a fun day.
“I love getting people all together, but even more than that, I just love bringing two different cultures together and bridging the gap culturally,” said Carlton, a Lakewood, California, native. “We all speak the language of love, care and concern. In that we find our united human existence.”
“Any time we get to watch the kids get some gifts and how much joy and pleasure it brings to them, that’s a good thing, but I think bringing our two communities together — Marines, sailors, their families and (Okinawa residents) — coming out into Uruma City supporting the schools is a very good thing as well,” said Col. Michael W. Taylor, Camp Courtney commander and commanding officer of Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2014 02:39 |
| Story ID: | 151156 |
| Location: | URUMA CITY, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | LAKEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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