Photo By Staff Sgt. Danielle Prentice | CHATAN TOWN, OKINAWA, Japan— 1st Sgt. Abelardo V. Dominguez, left, receives a letter...... read more read more
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CHATAN TOWN, OKINAWA, Japan— Marines volunteered as crossing guards for Kitatama Elementary School July 19 in Chatan Town, Okinawa, Japan.
This volunteer opportunity builds trust within the community. Marines are trusted with ensuring that children make it to school safely by using crosswalks.
"As the commander, I wanted to set the example today and be out volunteering with the Marines, doing what they do every Tuesday and Thursday," said Col. Vincent Ciuccoli, camp commander of Camp Foster and commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. “It's not just a one-time thing for me, I want to keep going, to let the Marines know it's important to me."
Marines set out cones to block thru traffic from 7:30–8:30 a.m. to ensure children’s safety as they walk to school.
“It is good to have Marines out here,” said Asato Kazumi, a teacher at Kitatama Elementary School. “The children don’t see a difference, the importance is they’re safely getting to school. I’d like for the Marines to continue to come help.”
Marines have been volunteering twice a week, providing two to four Marines, as crossing guards near Kitatama Elementary School since December 2015.
"I hope Marines who are involved and volunteer also get a better understanding of what it means to be a true partner in Okinawa," said Ciuccoli. "This means we have to give back. There is a great community and culture on Okinawa that we get to learn a lot about. For example this morning, you could feel it. You could see the friendliness whether you were waving at a child or you were talking to a parent. You really understand what it means to be part of the community. I believe we can learn a lot from them. I think it's the exact kind of mutual respect we need amongst each other as Marines, which members of the local community demonstrate every day. I like that the Marines get to see it firsthand."
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.23.2018 20:09 |
| Story ID: | 285264 |
| Location: | CHATAN TOWN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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