Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Courtney Glen White | Cpl. Vincent Rios and children from the Urawa Single Mothers Shelter compare scores at...... read more read more
Subscribe
OKINAWA, Japan - During Golden Week, April 29 through May 5, the Japanese celebrate several holidays. The National Holiday Laws declare four official holidays are to be celebrated annually in the week spanning the end of April to early May.
In honor of Golden Week, Marine commands throughout Okinawa held several events with their Okinawan counterparts to celebrate.
Service members stationed aboard Camp Courtney volunteered to spend time with the residents of the Urawa Single Mothers Shelter at the Camp Courtney Bowling Center April 28 in celebration of Golden Week.
Golden Week is the name given to the week of April 29 to May 5.
During the week, Japanese citizens celebrate many national holidays including Constitution Day, Greenery Day and Children’s Day.
“It was a great event for the kids because they were able to get the experience of being around people from a different country,” said Yumiko Fujii, a student in Umehara’s English class who volunteered to assist as an interpreter for the event. “The children did not hesitate to interact with the American people, and everyone seemed to be having fun.”
The visit consisted of bowling and pizza and concluded with a tour of the commissary, said Ichiro Umehara, liaison officer with the camp operations office on Camp Courtney.
“We had fun,” said Reiko Terukina, a mother who attended the event. “The children were happy.”
The event was designed to provide the guests with a little taste of American atmosphere, said 2nd Lt. Daniel E. English, camp operations officer for Camp Courtney.
“We invited the residents of the Urawa Single Mothers Shelter, so they would get the opportunity to see what goes on aboard a military base,” said English. “They have the chance to experience American culture and see the differences between an American store and an Okinawan store.”
Hosting activities where Marines and sailors interact with the Okinawan community members creates positive relationships with the local community, said English.
“We are guests in (this) country,” said English. “It is important that we maintain a friendly relationship with our neighbors, and doing events like this helps to show them we are good people.”
This event was a good way to get to know each other at a more personal level, according to Fujii.
“The Marines showed a lot of hospitality, and we appreciate their time,” said Fujii.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2012 22:22 |
| Story ID: | 87856 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marines host children, mothers during Golden Week, by GySgt Courtney Glen White, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
