Community partnership pulls together for beautification project

By Allen Shaw, Fort Wainwright PAOAugust 16, 2013

Community Partnership Day
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Working together
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FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - More than 100 volunteers came together Wednesday for a project to help clean up the area near the main entrance to Fort Wainwright and along the Chena River banks from the Outdoor Recreation office on post, to the City of Fairbanks snow dump area along the Steese Highway.

"This annual event helps strengthen military-civilian community partnerships," said Lisa Herbert, executive director for the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. "It provides civilians and service members the opportunity to roll up their sleeves, work side-by-side and get to know each other on a more personal level."

Community Partnership Day shows community support of our military, alternating projects between Eielson Air Force Base and Ft. Wainwright Army Post annually. Past projects have included setting up playground equipment at Eielson, clearing a nature trail at Ft. Wainwright, clearing grounds for the memorial park at Ft. Wainwright, beautifying the entrance to Eielson, among other projects.

The first event was held in 2001 and has alternated between both military installations each year.

After this year's project was complete, everyone attended a special lunch served by military leaders, mayors, members from Alaska's Interior Delegation and other distinguished civic leaders who took on the task of "celebrity chefs".