Photo By Staff Sgt. Shana Hutchins | Several children play on the newly refurbished playground equipment at Western...... read more read more
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Service members make final adjustments to chains on a swing and watch as several children smile and play on the newly refurbished playground equipment at Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan, Belize April 24, 2017. U.S. Marines and U.S. Air Force reservists took the opportunity to refurbish the hospital playground during their participation in Beyond the Horizon 2017, a partnership exercise between U.S. Southern Command and the Government of Belize designed to improve health and educational facilities by providing five construction projects and three health care events in the districts of Cayo, Stann Creek and Belize.
Military personnel, on-site since early March, noticed the playground facilities were in disrepair while working on the two key projects at this location, an emergency room extension and a housing for a medical waste incinerator. Determining they were ahead of schedule on their current projects, the team purchased paint, chains for swings and hardware from the local area.
“We are very excited about both projects (during Beyond the Horizon) and about the little things that (the military members) do around here to make the kids happy,” said Bernadette Seaver, the Western Regional Hospital administrator. “This playground here is highly used, not by the kids who are sick, but by the kids who can’t go into the ward. It’s a way of distracting them from having to wait outside the hospital."
Lance Cpl. Austin Allison, a Marine Reserve combat engineer with Company C., 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group out of Millington, Tennessee, was here during the previous rotation and explained how they re-painted the playground, put up new swings, added an infant swing and re-shingled the playhouse roof.
“Just like back home, a lot of guys serve the community. They serve the community here,” stated Allison. “It’s a rewarding feeling. Somebody being able to use the product of your work.”
Military members routinely take part in humanitarian missions all over the world. This project of opportunity benefiting the children visiting the Belmopan Regional Hospital helps forge strong relationships.
“We really appreciate this project here. They changed some things and they painted and they made it more usable.”
As Beyond the Horizon 2017 continues, U.S. personnel continue to find additional projects to participate in that benefit the local community, all projects are scheduled to be complete by mid-June.
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.26.2017 18:57 |
| Story ID: | 231689 |
| Location: | BELMOPAN, BZ |
| Web Views: | 176 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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