Articles

Andersen Airmen participate in Intercoastal Clean-up

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carissa Wolff
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Team Andersen participated in the annual Guam Intercoastal Clean-up Sept. 20 by picking up approximately 50 bags of trash and recyclables from Marbo Cave.

The Intercoastal Clean-up is an event hosted by the National Park Service to help keep the island of Guam clean.

Approximately 30 volunteers from Team Andersen attended the event. The volunteers chose Marbo Cave to clean. According to several of the Andersen volunteers there was a large volume of trash in and leading to the cave.

"The Intercoastal Clean-up was one way I could lend my services to the community," said Staff Sgt. Terrence Baptiste, 36th Force Support Squadron. "The clean-up lasted four hours and gave me and the other airmen from the 36th FSS an opportunity to give back to the community as well as be good stewards of the environment." 

Deployed Airmen from the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron also felt it was important to volunteer during the Intercoastal Clean-up. 

"Guam is a beautiful island and I wanted to volunteer to help keep it clean," said 1st Lt. William Taylor, 20th EBS. "It's also important for deployed personnel to volunteer of the local community where they are deployed. By volunteering for the Intercoastal Clean-up I was able to get used to my surroundings on Guam and learn about and get used to the local culture here."

Sergeant Baptiste cites the beauty of the island as an important reason to keep the island clean for future residents and Airmen of Guam.

"Before I arrived at Andersen, all I heard of the installation was that it was a sleepy hollow, and that doesn't seem to be the case," said Sergeant Baptiste. "The Andersen community is very busy, whether military, civilian, or dependents, everyone is constantly moving."

"It is important to realize that most of us are here for three to four years. In that short amount of time we can only make Guam better for our replacements. By taking to the time to participate in annual events such as the Intercoastal Clean-up, we establish good rapport within the Guam Community."

The Intercoastal Clean-up is not the only way to volunteer to keep the island clean. The Guam Coastal Management Office welcomes volunteers year round to further cleanup areas around Guam.