CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Charleston AFB hosted approximately 600 fifth-grade elementary students from Charleston area elementary schools for its 13th annual Earth Day celebration March 25.
Charleston AFB traditionally celebrates Arbor Day in conjunction with its annual Earth Day event held each spring. At Charleston AFB, a concerted effort is made to implement the principles of tree management during the design phase of all construction projects, thereby making the best use of our natural available resources. As a testament to this effort, Team Charleston has received the Tree City USA award from the National Arbor Day Foundation for 14 out of the past 15 years.
Throughout the day, children had the chance to enjoy 30 presentations from exhibitors from around the Charleston area. The exhibits ranged from birds the children could hold, to bugs the children could touch and a handful of children were given the opportunity to plant a tree with base leadership.
Other activities included the 437th Security Forces Squadron demonstrating the power of their working dog, shortly followed by the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron fire company driving by the picnic grounds spraying the hose away from the picnic grounds.
This year's celebration started out with the base honor guard posting the colors and the children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The children broke off into their groups to visit thirty presentations occurring simultaneously. The children rotated their groups after ten minute increments.
Throughout the world, Earth Day is recognized as the symbol of environmental responsibility and stewardship.
"First of all, the base takes this day very serious," said Col. Frank Jones, 437th Mission Support Group commander. "We get to share information with the children about what we know about the environment and it gives them a chance to get hands on experience with 30 local area exhibitors."
With the concern of environmental issues, real progress is going to require lots of hard work and awareness education, said Keith Thompson, 437th Civil Engineer Squadron conservation program manager.
"Earth day, every day is the theme for this year's event," said Colonel Jones. "It emphasizes that this is not a one day a year thing, it's every day. The kids are learning so much more about the environment now that we ever did when we were kids. Everything we do today will have such an impact for tomorrow."
The Earth Day celebration gives Charleston AFB an opportunity to give something back to the community, to the kids, in the form of environmental awareness education.
"We wanted to get the kids out and instill on them at an early age on how they can help out with the environment," said Keith Thompson. "This event helps give the community some insight on what we do here on base and show them we are also concerned about the environment, as well as our mission."