By Anna-Victoria Crisostomo, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Public Affairs
GUAM (NNS) -- Volunteers from Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 participated in a day-long cleanup effort to support events in recognition of Earth Week on Guam April 30.
The volunteers kicked off the day by cleaning up Tanguisson Beach and Park in Dededo. They collected 60 bags of trash that had once scattered the shoreline and Tanguisson park facility, and were able to separate bags of glass and plastic for recycling.
According to Paul Wenninger, NAVFAC Marianas natural resources specialist and coordinator of the event, volunteers removed more than 400 bags of trash from the Tanguisson area in the past three years.
"The Navy's very involved with helping the public and doing volunteer work, and this is an opportunity for us to clean a beach that has public access," Wenninger said. "We like to come out and go to a public beach and do a cleanup that can benefit the whole island."
Gunner's Mate 1st Class (EXW) Ronald Sherman, EODMU 5, said everyone should have a hand in preserving Guam's natural treasures.
"It's very important that we're out here at the beaches or where people hang out," Sherman said. "If you don't take care of the beaches then it's going to be overran by trash."
Wenninger agreed wholeheartedly with Sherman.
"We should take pride in our island," Wenninger said. "This is the Navy's way of giving back to the community."
Military representatives also participated in the Guahan (GWAH-hawn), or Guam, Earth Festival at the Governor Joseph Flores Beach Park in Tumon on the same day. Alongside government of Guam entities including the Guam Energy Office and Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Joint Region Marianas (JRM), NBG, and Andersen Air Force Base (AFB) energy managers promoted conservation, energy efficiency, and wildlife preservation and protection. They also passed out environmental-friendly, reusable shoulder bags, pens, pencils, and other items with conservation messages.
"Joint Region Marianas wants to support our sister villages and Guam in showing our support for an island sustainability concept – a 'one Guam concept' – and saving energy," said Kevin Evans, JRM energy manager. "We're all one community here. So, pardon the cliche, no one's an island. We have to work together, and we're all in this together."
Personnel from the Andersen AFB environmental team promoted the base's recycling program and Natural Resources Conservation Office. Barbara Torres, Andersen Environmental Team Pollution Prevention Program environmental protection specialist, said her team was there to give Guam residents a look at environmental measures being taken aboard Andersen AFB.
"For the recycling side, we just wanted to share with people what we do at Andersen; how we recycle in the offices and at the homes, and how from that recycling, how it goes to the facility and it gets recycled either on island or off island," she said.
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