Morning colors aboard Camp Foster

Photo By Sgt. Christopher Madero | Hidetada Nakama, a Japanese Security Guard (JSG) with Camp Butler’s Provost Marshal Office bears the Japanese flag prior to a colors ceremony on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 13, 2021. The JSGs were accompanied by U.S. Marines, who were participating in the colors ceremony as well. Performing a daily colors ceremony with the host nation symbolizes the cooperation and joint effort of American and Japanese forces throughout Japan. . (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Christopher A. Madero)  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

01.13.2021

Story by Cpl. Christopher Madero 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan - Since 1954, Camp Foster has lowered and raised American and Japanese colors alongside members of the local Okinawa community. As long as the weather was deemed safe, a morning and evening colors ceremony was inevitable.
At 7:55 a.m., a Marine in the Camp Butler Headquarters building initiated the “first call” - a five minute warning that preceded the start of Camp Foster’s colors ceremony.

Directly after the five minute warning, Marines and Japanese security guards marched up the steps that lead to Camp Foster’s flagpole. There, they fastened the colors to the flagpole ropes and waited until the American national anthem sounded off. Both Marines and JSGs hoisted their colors up simultaneously and remained at attention with a hand salute at their brow. After both American and Japanese national anthems played, the ceremony concluded.

Every evening, the colors are brought down as “Retreat” plays throughout the camp. Both Marines and JSGs unhook and neatly fold their national colors, where it will remain properly stored until it flies again.

“It’s an honor to share our daily traditions in Okinawa.” said Cpl. Joshua Valle, a services noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. “It’s always nice to see the JSGs. Even though we can’t really verbally communicate, when we raise our flags side by side, that’s says everything I need to know”

The US and Japan have been flying their colors alongside each other for nearly 70 years. According to many Ginowan residents, they cannot remember a time when both flags did not fly next to each other.

“When I was a kid growing up in Ginowan, I remembered always seeing both flags,” said Hidetada Nakama, a Japanese Security Guard with Camp Butler’s Provost Marshal Office. “I am very proud because I never imagined I’d be the one pulling the flag up one day.”

This daily colors ceremony symbolizes the cooperation and joint effort of American and Japanese forces throughout Japan.

• Date Taken: 01.13.2021
• Date Posted: 01.14.2021 19:28
• Story ID: 386913
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP