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Be clean, be green, be a recycling machine. Litter is everywhere, but it can be reduced by one simple phrase that is taught from a young age: “Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!” Following these three simple steps can make the world a better place. The Mustang association aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) participates in the Keep Norfolk Beautiful: Adopt-A-Spot program to help keep the area litter-free.
Keep Norfolk Beautiful is a public works program to help keep the city litter-free. “Adopt-A-Spot is a program that falls under Keep Norfolk Beautiful,” Lt. Cmdr. Roger Eyerolles, the combat systems maintenance officer aboard George Washington. “Adopt-A-Spot is [a program] where you can request a route where you would like to conduct litter pick up.” The process for the mustangs to start their Adopt-A-Spot started seven months ago. The mustangs had to go through training, schedule the clean ups, and have a route designated to have their efforts formally recognized by the city of Norfolk.
“It is a quarterly requirement,” said Eyerolles. “You have to do one pick up every quarter. This will be our first inaugural clean-up on the 22nd of October.”
The two mile long area is designated as the USS George Washington Mustang’s own, and is located on Shore Drive in Norfolk, Va. This will be their spot until George Washington returns to Japan.
“After two consecutive quarters of picking up trash, we will get our own sign made by the Department of Transportation that will be posted along Shore Drive that signifies where our route is,” said Eyerolles.
Having a sign to signify the accomplishment is not the only reason they are participating in this program. The mustang organization is participating in Adopt-A-Spot in order to make a difference in the community.
“Adopt-A-Spot is a really good program that allows people to take ownership of something outside of the lifelines of the ship,” said Chief Warrant Officer John Flick, assigned to the weapons department aboard George Washington. “It is an opportunity to be a contributing factor in the beautification of the community and clean up the environment.”
According to a recent study funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, without greater mitigation efforts to stop trash dumpings into water, the world’s oceans will contain nearly 250 million metric tons of plastic by 2025, or approximately one pound of plastic for every three pounds of fish. Oftentimes, trash and litter on land make their way to the sea. Hampton Roads is a coastal community, and we all play a part in keeping it clean.
“This puts a positive spotlight on George Washington,” said Flick. “It gets the ship’s name out there to show that we care about the cleanliness of the area we live and work in. It gives a sense of accomplishment and pride by doing something positive for the community.”
The Navy’s community service program encourages and expands involvement of Navy volunteers in the communities in which they live and work. Its goal is to promote volunteerism and community service between Navy personnel and local communities.
“You feel good about it; everyone is impacted by litter,” said Eyerolles. “Litter accumulates over time, and every piece of plastic I pick up is one less chance turtles or any other animal will suffocate or fill their stomach with plastic that will ultimately lead to their death.”
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2020 18:07 |
| Story ID: | 385967 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, GW’S MUSTANGS ADOPT-A-SPOT KEEPING HAMPTON ‘ROADS’ CLEAN, by PO3 Cory Daut, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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