Community Partnership Day 2009

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  More than 70 Airmen, Soldiers and Fairbanks community members partnered together to clean up Memorial Park at Fort Wainwright July 10. 

The community service project was hosted by the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce as part of Community Partnership Day. 

The day started off with a 9:30 a.m. check-in where volunteers received t-shirts and were then briefed by Army Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Wentland. At 10 a.m. the workers started their work cleaning memorials, pruning trees, planting vegetation and clearing the land. 

"It was a good way to return the favor for their help last year," said Airman 1st Class Brittany Lexa, 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance technician. "It was also an opportunity to honor those who have lost their lives and their families." 

"The day was fun and everyone, the Soldiers and the community members, were very nice," she added.

After two hours of hard work, the volunteers were treated to a picnic lunch of hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks prepared for them especially by "celebrity" chefs from the local military and civilian communities. 

"We had fabulous weather, Command Sgt. Maj. Wentland had a great outline of what needed to be done and everyone felt useful," said Althea St. Martin, from the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee who served as a co-chair for this year's event. "Community Partnership Day is a chance where you can get to know the person next to you, instead of just sitting across from them at a meeting."

The day ended and the volunteers had gone back to their regular jobs, but they had undoubtedly left their mark. 

Ms. St. Martin believes the final product was exceptional, "It wasn't a work project, but a project of the heart."

The event, coordinated by the Greater Fairbanks Chambers' Military Affairs committee, has taken place every year since 2001. It was first held at Fort Wainwright and has alternated between the two military installations each year. It was started to encourage interaction between Airmen, Soldiers, and the local community while doing a community service project. 

"I think community partnership is important to bring the community together and build a bond," said Command Sgt. Maj. Wentland. "The military is becoming more of a joint environment and this is just one way we can come together outside the workplace and accomplish something."

Projects in the past have included playground equipment installation, beautifying the front gate at Eielson and cleaning up Glass Park at Fort Wainwright.