U.S. Marines, sailors lead clean-up effort in Romania

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jessica Smith | U.S. Navy Lt. David Jones (left), command chaplain with the Black Sea Rotational Force, and U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas Glynn (right), a mortarman with BSRF, points out a particularly messy area deep in the brush of Constanta City Park, Romania, during a beautification project they organized, May 8, 2015. Approximately 30 U.S. Marines and sailors from the Black Sea Rotational Force worked alongside local community members from Constanta, Romania, to volunteer their time to clean up the largest local park in Constanta. The Marines collected more than 500 bags of trash with the help of U.S. Army soldiers and local volunteers from SC RAJA SA Constanta, one of the largest water utilities in Romania.  

CONSTANTA, ROMANIA

05.08.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Jessica Smith 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

CONSTANTA, Romania - Approximately 30 U.S. Marines and sailors with BSRF volunteered for a beautification project at Constanta City Park, Romania, May 8, 2015, to clear debris and restore the natural beauty of the park.

The endeavor was initiated by Glynn one afternoon when he noticed that trash had overwhelmed the park and surrounding waterways. He knew he could make a difference, so with the assistance of U.S. Navy Lt. David Jones, command chaplain with BSRF, and local community members, Glynn was able to organize a clean-up effort.

“I came out here to walk through the park and I saw a lot of garbage but I thought it was a beautiful park and figured it would be a good idea to try to get a group together, clean it up, make it look better,” said Glynn, a native of Long Island, N.Y. “I spoke to the chaplain and asked if he could help me set it up. He got a group together, talked to the local water authorities, and just put it together step by step.”

The Marines and sailors gathered more than 700 pounds of trash in four hours with the help of the Navy League of the United States, U.S. Army soldiers and local employees from SC RAJA SA Constanta, one of the largest water utilities in Romania. The team cleaned throughout the park grounds, along the waterline, and on the water surface of Lake Tannery using paddle boats.

The Marines and sailors, who have been forward deployed since February to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, were welcomed by the Constanta community with open arms; so they jumped at the opportunity to say thank you and offer their support for this project.

“I saw that we were going to be able to make a difference in a community that we are not from, and I wanted to be able to be a part of that,” said Lance Cpl. Alejandro Muro, an administration clerk with BSRF. “I came out here to help make this place as beautiful as it can be.”

• Date Taken: 05.08.2015
• Date Posted: 05.20.2015 05:53
• Story ID: 163910
• Location: CONSTANTA, RO
• Hometown: LONG ISLAND CITY, NY, US