Sailors in Misawa Contribute to Japan’s Red Feather Campaign

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

03.13.2015

Story by Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan - Japan’s Red Feather Campaign was created in 1947 and modeled after America’s Community Chest Program whose purpose is to provide assistance to the less fortunate by eliciting good will from others.

The Sailors at Misawa Air Base were the largest contributors raising $3,557.33 for the campaign.

The symbol of Japan's Red Feather Campaign, a red feather, comes from America’s Community Chest and stands for courage and good conduct.

Logistics Specialist 1st Class Julian Delay, assigned to Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Support Detachment (AIMD) Misawa, from San Diego, was the Navy’s Red Feather Campaign fundraising event coordinator here.

“I volunteered to be Navy Misawa's representative because I wanted the opportunity to give and I wanted a challenging leadership position that would allow me to show junior Sailors the positive impact contributing has on local communities overseas,” said Dulay.

The Red Feather Campaign funds transportation services for the elderly to attend daily senior citizen care activities at Misawa’s Welfare Centers. The campaign also provides wheelchairs, walkers, and other medical equipment for individual and public use in homes, orphanages, and elderly care centers in Japan.

Ninety percent of funds collected remain in the Aomori Prefecture, with 10 percent going to national programs, meaning that funds raised here stay here.

Approximately 10 widows of U.S. military personnel are currently receiving services through agencies supported by the Red Feather Campaign.

The Sailors raised funds by conducting nine events that included food sales and bell ringing at the base exchange and commissary here.

“Helping the local community shows our host nation that Airmen and Sailors are goodwill ambassadors of Misawa Air base. We learn more about our local community by being part of the community,” said Dulay.

Col. Timothy J. Sundvall, commander 35th Fighter Wing, Numata Ishi, president of Misawa’s Red Feather Campaign, and Ibata Akio, president of Aomori’s Red Feather Campaign, spoke at the award ceremony.

Dulay and Aviation Electrician’s Mate 1st Class John Wright, assigned to AIMD Misawa, from Chester, Mont., accepted the award at the ceremony.

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit www.navy.mil/local/nafmisawa/.

• Date Taken: 03.13.2015
• Date Posted: 03.18.2015 04:02
• Story ID: 157323
• Location: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: MISAWA, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: CHESTER, MT, US
• Hometown: SAN DIEGO, CA, US