Hospital Gate open on Camp Foster

Photo By Sgt. Brennan Priest | CAMP FOSTER, GINOWAN CITY, OKINAWA, Japan- Atsushi Sakima is the first to use the new gate following a gate opening ceremony Aug. 7 on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Sakima waved from his car as he left Camp Foster. Sakima is the mayor of Ginowan City. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.07.2018

Story by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan- Camp Foster held a ribbon cutting ceremony signifying the opening of Gate 7 Aug. 7 on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan.
The gate was designed to improve accessibility to the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa for military personnel and their families.
“As the Camp Foster commander one of my responsibilities is taking care of the Marines, sailors and civilians that work and live on Camp Foster,” said Marine Col. Vincent J. Ciuccoli, camp commander of Camp Foster. “They depend on several services, and one of the main ones is the U.S. Naval Hospital. Without that hospital and direct access to it, it would delay the services that are available to them.”
Ceremony attendees included: Atsushi Sakima, mayor of Ginowan City; Navy Captain Cynthia Kuehner, USNH Okinawa commanding officer; Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Dennis L. Hathorn, USNH Okinawa command master chief; and representatives from the Okinawa community.
Ciuccoli and Sakima spoke about the benefits of the newly opened gate.
The gate will help to improve the bond between the military community and the Okinawa residents, by providing better access to Ginowan City for Camp Foster personnel, according to Ciuccoli
“Just as important as the health and well-being of the Marines, sailors and civilians on Camp Foster is that of the health and well-being of the people of Okinawa,” said Ciuccoli. “I believe that by having this kind of access in and out of the hospital gate we will be able to bolster the economic conditions and the commerce here in Ginowan City.”
After the ceremony, a line of cars waited to use the newly opened gate. Sakima was the first to exit the gate, waving as he left Camp Foster.
The hospital gate will be open 6 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, except for holidays. Starting Aug. 7, Gate 2, the Spot Gate, is closed until further notice. Also, Gate 5, the Commissary Gate, will be one-way traffic from 6 am-8 am on duty days. For more information on gate openings, visit www.facebook.com/CampFoster.

• Date Taken: 08.07.2018
• Date Posted: 08.07.2018 19:57
• Story ID: 287569
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP