Airmen restore American history at Gettysburg

by Airman 1st Class William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/15/2014 - GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Fighting broke out once again on the frontlines of Gettysburg. However, it wasn't the battle sounds of cannons and muskets being fired from the Union and Confederate Armies heard, it was the sound of overgrown brush being pulled from the ground and the sound of a rotting fence being torn down in a battle that pitted Airmen against Mother Nature.

More than 100 Team Dover Airmen armed with rakes, clippers and wood cleared out overgrown brush and rebuilt sections of a 300-yard fence line behind the historic Sherfy House Oct. 10, 2014, to help preserve one of America's most famous battlegrounds at Gettysburg National Military Park.

The volunteer trip was organized by the Dover Air Force Base First Sergeants Council and the trip itself was led by Master Sgt. William Garcia, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, who said it was a major success.

"As a first sergeant, we like to take charge and lead certain volunteer opportunities and I think this is one of the most worthy events we could have done," said Garcia. "But today would not have been possible without all of our volunteers. Everybody has smiles on their faces and we are getting a lot of work done quickly and professionally in a short amount of time. It really is a great thing to see."

This was the second time this year where volunteers from Team Dover have traveled to Gettysburg to help preserve the park. A similar clean-up event took place in the spring led by the Air Force Sergeants Association, Chapter 201.

Amanda Whitmore, Gettysburg National Military Park volunteer program assistant, said the park is always impressed by the quality of work performed by the volunteer Airmen.

"Dover AFB is one of the largest groups in our Adopt-A-Position Program that comes out and helps restores the park," said Whitmore. "I think they do a phenomenal job every time they come out and we really couldn't appreciate it more."

Many of the Airmen who volunteered in the spring volunteered for this trip as well. Staff Sgt. Caleb Dubourg, 436th Maintenance Squadron aerospace pulse technician, is one of those Airmen who made the two and a half hour drive to Gettysburg.

"I wanted to come back and volunteer again because I want to help preserve one of America's greatest battlefields," said Dubourg. "I think this is a great way for Airmen to show their support for the community and it gives younger Airmen a chance to observe American military history first-hand."

For some Airmen, this was their first time volunteering at Gettysburg but it won't be their last.

"I wanted to come out and make difference," said Robert Romano 436th MXS aerospace pulse apprentice. "People from other countries come and visit parks like this to get an impression about us as Americans and I wanted to do my part and make sure they get the right impression. I'm looking forward to returning in the spring to help out again."