Back to school, Marines on guard for children / 海兵隊員と共に日常戻る登校風景

Photo By Yoshie Makiyama | Staff Sgt. Nivia H. Huskey, military police officer, Headquarter and Support Battalion holds the safety flag while a school child crosses the street.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.10.2020

Story by Yoshie Makiyama 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

Okinawan elementary schools were back in session after a long school closure due to the pandemic of COVID-19. Brand new children just out of kindergarten were walking to school, some with parents, some with the siblings and friends. Older children greeted each other with excitement after an extended break.

The scenery you normally see in the morning before school starts was back at Kitatama Elementary School without exception. However, the difference here was at the crosswalks. Among the people who were there holding up the cross road flags for traffic safety and guiding children were foreigners.

Such a sight has been seen here every Tuesday and Thursday since June 2017.

Six Marines from Camp Foster and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma supported as crossing guards May 26 for the children going to school in the morning at KES which is located by Camps Foster and Lester in Chatan town.

“It’s a great time to do something nice,” said Cpl. Adelene M. Robles and Lance Cpl. Kayla M. Salazar of Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, participating in the holiday.

Volunteers came to Kitatama District Community Center at 7:15am. Hiroko Tomimura, community relations specialist for Camps Foster and Lester who was the organizer, explained what to do as crossing guards.

The group was divided into three places where the school children needed special attention when crossing the street. Marines greeted the children in Japanese, and some of the children still looked sleepy, but replied quickly.

“I think the children feel safe and have a sense of security by having Marines watch over them when crossing the street,” Toru Yamashiro, the Elementary School Principle said.

Staff Sgt. Nivia H. Husky from Provost Marshal's Office, Headquarter and Support Battalion, was pleased to have joined the volunteers saying it was a nice atmosphere and that the children and everyone were engaging and so polite.

“Thanks to Marines, there are less reckless drivers,” stated Seizen Sakihama, the Kitatama District headman. He added that he has not recognized any trouble for at least the past two years since Marines started volunteering.

　新型コロナウイルスの流行による長期休校後、沖縄の地元の小学校が再開した。幼稚園を出たばかりの新一年生は学校に親と一緒に、あるいは兄弟や友達と一緒に登校した。年長生は長期休暇後の再会を喜んでお互いに挨拶しあった。

　朝、学校が始まる前に普段見る光景は例にもれず北玉小学校にも戻っていた。ここでの違いは横断歩道だった。交通安全のために横断歩道で旗を掲げ、子供たちを導く人々の中に海兵隊員がいた。

　このような光景は２０１７年６月以来毎週火曜日と木曜日にこの場所でみられるものだ。

　キャンプ・フォスターと普天間航空基地の６人の海兵隊員が、５月26日に北谷町のキャンプ・フォスターとキャンプ・レスター近隣にある北谷町立北玉小学校で朝の登校の横断補助員として児童達を見守った。

　「何か良い事をするには素晴らしい時です」と休日にかかわらず参加した第１海兵航空団、第18海兵航空管制群のアデレーヌ・Ｍ・ロブレス伍長とケイラ・Ｍ・サラザール上等兵は言った。

　ボランティア参加者は７時15分に北玉区公民館にやってきた。主催者であるキャンプ・フォスター＆レスター基地渉外官の富村浩子さんが、横断補助員として何をすべきかを説明した。

　グループは、子供たちが道路を横断する時に特に注意が必要な３か所に分かれた。海兵隊員は日本語で子供達に挨拶し、まだ眠そうに見える子供たちもいたが、すぐに挨拶を返していた。

　「海兵隊員が見守っていてくれることで、子供たちは安全に感じ、安心感を持っていると思います」と北玉小の山城亨校長は言う。

　米海兵隊本部業務大隊憲兵隊のニビア・Ｈ・ハスキー軍曹は、小さな子供たちと誰もが魅力的で礼儀正しいと話し、ボランティアに参加したことを喜んだ。

　「海兵隊員のおかげで、無謀なドライバーは少なくなったと思います」と北玉区長の崎濱盛善さんは述べた。海兵隊員がボランティアを始めて以来、過去最低２年間トラブルを認識していないと崎濱さんは付け加えた。

• Date Taken: 07.10.2020
• Date Posted: 07.14.2021 20:16
• Story ID: 400773
• Location: OKINAWA, JP