VICENZA, Italy -- More than 30 members from the Vicenza Military Community came out in sunny and warm pre-spring weather March 12 to help Italian volunteers from the towns of Longare and Arcugnano pick up trash, pull weeds, sweep walkways and clean hiking trails.
Participants from the garrison command team and Soldiers recruited by BOSS partnered with officials of the Longare city council to work in small Italian/American teams led by senior members of the local Alpini chapters.
Together, they collected trash around Longare, the small town southeast of Vicenza that houses a small installation with U.S. Army Reserve activities and a veterinary clinic.
"I really enjoyed having a chance to come here and join the Italian volunteers to do something good for the community. When these opportunities are available we are eager to partake and make new friends with the locals," said Pfc. Ene Kapisi, 207th Military Intelligence Brigade.
"Not only does it provide an opportunity to give back to the community and our host nation, but it also gives Soldiers a goal to work towards," said Sgt. Dylan Widener, BOSS president. "It also builds great morale and creates a strong bonding experience between Soldiers outside of work."
Mayor of Longare Gaetano Fontana and Col. Steve Marks, U.S. Army Garrison Italy commander, were also there working shoulder to shoulder to help the cleanup effort.
"We are honored to continue this initiative we started last year and glad to see how many young Americans responded to our call," said Fontana. He said that everybody in town appreciates the hard work the volunteers did together and called it "another tangible sign of the growing integration between the Italian and American community."
Marks said he was grateful to the Soldiers and their families for their participation.
"Longare is such a critical community for the U.S. Army," he said. "We really want to do our best to help keep up beautiful small towns like this. What a wonderful way to spend a spring day in Vicenza."
Resident of Longare, Capt. Kyle McCarter, commander, Company A, 307th Military Intelligence Battalion, participated with his wife Cassidy. "We had an amazing experience here today with the community and the local chapter of the Alpini. We made many new friends while working alongside them. We plan on doing this again next year," McCarter said.
"It was great and rewarding -- such a beautiful day and we got an opportunity to be part of the community. We also learned new things about the rich history of the town. I did not know there were so many trails to hike. I just can't wait to come back and explore with family and friends," said family member Erin Dennison.
The same day, a few miles away up in the hills of Arcugnano, 12 Soldiers from 509th Signal Battalion stationed at Caserma Del Din joined forces with local volunteers. Their mission: to clean a trail and rake leaves and branches around the ruin of an ancient watchtower that dates back to the 14th century.
"This initiative brought together Alpini, Boy Scouts and the Civil Protection Agency. It shows our commitment to restore the ancient beauty of the site, especially for what it represents to the local citizens in terms of historical importance," said Flavia Zolla, Arcugnano city official in charge of historical heritage.
"The tower is the only remaining testimony of our medieval heritage and it is a symbol of the town of Arcugnano. We are very grateful to these young Soldiers and [their command teams]. We commend them for the personal time and civic effort they have invested in our community," Zolla said.
Command Sgt. Maj. Antonio Quaglia, from the office of the Italian base commander, expressed satisfaction on the success of the continued partnership between the American military community and the Alpini chapters from around Vicenza.
"Over the past two years we have been working on important community outreach projects that benefit the recipients while helping build teamwork among volunteers," he said.
The overall value of these efforts, said Lt. Col. Brent O. Skinner, 509th Signal Battalion commander, is priceless. "These initiatives are beneficial to U.S. Soldiers in Italy because they build a long-term alliance with our host partners in the community. Soldiers volunteer their free time to give back to the community because they want to do it, and they were excited about establishing a connection with a local Italian organization and learn about their culture. As ambassadors of the U.S. Army, we support the surrounding Vicenza communities. We not only live in the community but we are also a part of it. What better way to show it through volunteerism and helping out."
"Activities outside of the workplace definitely build morale and strengthen esprit de corps because it gives Soldiers an opportunity to see leadership outside of their normal roles," said Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory D. Rowland. "The Soldiers were excited to see the command teams picking up trash and raking alongside them. We were not in a leadership capacity but were on the same playing field as them and willing to assist in any way. I could tell that was important to them! The Soldiers are already looking forward to the next volunteer event," he said.
After the work was done, the Alpini cooked and offered a friendship-building luncheon to all participants. That too helped strengthen bonds.
Annual community cleanup days are part of community outreach efforts by USAG Italy in partnership with nearby Italian towns. For information on future events, call 637-8009.
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