Sailors assigned to Naval Base Kitsap participated in a base-wide cleanup of NBK to commemorate Earth Day 2013, April 19.
The Department of the Navy Earth Day theme for 2013 is “Global Reach – Local Action.” The theme is meant to encourage Sailors to take local action to show the Navy’s dedication to protecting the environment.
“It’s more than just clean up; it’s education. It’s not just an NBK thing; it’s a region event,” said Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Jeremy Cozza, coordinator for NBK cleanup.
The base-wide clean up was an all-hands event. Not just for the personnel assigned to NBK, the Sailors assigned to NBK tenant commands will be participating throughout next week.
“It should be more than one day that we celebrate the environment,” said Cozza. “It’s good to get out here to help the environment as much as we can, to get out here and do our part.”
During the clean-up, Sailors pulled weeds, pressure washed sidewalks and cleaned flowerbeds and building gutters.
“Anything you can do to help out the environment [by] picking up trash and stuff like that [is helpful],” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SS) Benjamin Domin. “[Sailors] do stuff normally, but today is a big concentrated effort to get the stuff we can’t normally do everyday.”
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Kathryn Grimes said she participated in the NBK base-wide clean up by doing basic yard work to help keep the base squared away.
“It’s good to do it on Earth Day as a big recognition, but I think that everyday you’re walking down the sidewalks on base and you see trash, or anything little, pick it up. It’s not that hard to do,” said Grimes.
Through April and May, Navy installations and tenant commands within Navy Region Northwest will be participating in Earth Day related events like cleanup projects, a fish planting and recycling competitions.
Navy and Marine Corps commands officially celebrate Earth Day April 22. Earth Day officially started April 22, 1970 as a day to reflect on the planet’s environment and ways to help keep it healthy.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, April 22, 2013; Image: US Navy