Sappers make a difference at museum

By Kyle Ford, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Public AffairsNovember 3, 2009

Sappers make a difference at museum
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Pfc. Tyrone Clark, combat engineer, 34th Sapper Company, 130th Engineer Brigade, shows son, Mathias, 3, how to paint a bookshelf at the 25th Infantry Division Tropic Lightning Museum, here, during Make A Difference Day, O... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Soldiers and family members volunteered to make a difference, Oct. 24, at the Tropic Lightning Museum, here.

Soldiers traded in combat gear for paintbrushes to freshen up the museum during the annual Make A Difference Day celebration.

Make A Difference Day was created by USA WEEKEND Magazine as a national day of helping others - a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.

"Due to our small staff, big projects like this can't be done without help," said Kathleen Ramsden, Tropic Lightning Museum technician. "Having volunteers help clean up gives the museum an inviting atmosphere for our guests."

The combat engineers of 1st Platoon, 34th Sapper Company, 130th Engineer Brigade, were happy to give up their Saturday morning for a good cause.

"I do it because of karma," said Pvt. Darrell Godfrey, combat engineer, 1st Platoon, 34th Sapper Co., 130th Eng. Bde. "If you help others out when they need it, you will get help when you need it."

Other Soldiers felt the need to preserve unit history.

"It's always good to know what you're a part of and where you came from," said Pvt. Ben Fecteau, combat engineer, 1st Platoon, 34th Sapper Co., 130th Eng. Bde.

The mission of the Tropic Lightning Museum is to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit the artifacts and related memorabilia that reflect the history of Schofield Barracks and the 25th Infantry Division, from 1941 to the present. As an educational institution, the museum supports education and training for military and civilian personnel.

The museum is located in Building 361, Waianae Avenue, Schofield Barracks.