Over 200 Soldiers from Camp Casey and volunteers from various social groups in Dongducheon came together to clean up debris from the Shincheon River near Camp Casey's main gate, March 29.
The event hosted by the Dongducheon Do Dream Volunteer Center, began with an opening ceremony welcoming and thanking both civilian volunteers and Soldiers. The Mayor of Dongducheon city, Oh Sechang, and the 2nd Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General- Maneuver, Brig. Gen. Brian J Mennes presented speeches of appreciation to the crowd of volunteers.
"I want to thank the Soldiers of 2nd Infantry Division and the citizens of Dongducheon for volunteering for Shincheon River Cleanup," said Mayor Oh. "I believe Dongducheon is the only place in South Korea where the U.S. Soldiers and Korean citizens work shoulder to shoulder to protect nature and the city they live in."
"I am grateful that Mayor Oh and the community has offered us an opportunity to share in this great community event," said Mennes. "I appreciate the grateful gestures of hospitality provided to us by the people daily and Mayor Oh and his intent to make us feel at home."
The Shincheon River Cleanup event began in 2004 and it has been hosted by the Dongducheon Do Dream Volunteer Center annually to strengthen the relationship between U.S. forces and Dongducheon citizens as they clean up the Shincheon River.
"The Shincheon River Cleanup is a means for Soldiers to interact with the citizens of Dongducheon, while cleaning up the community," said 1st Lt. Solomon Choi, the assistant civil operations officer assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division. "It is a positive way for us to give back to the community that supports us."
Prior to performing the cleanup, volunteers threw biodegradable balls comprised of effective micro-organisms into the river to aid in nutrient replenishment of the river and to aid in the removal of built up moss.
"I really want to thank the Soldiers for doing this," said Ham Mina, a citizen of Dongducheon who volunteered for Shincheon Cleanup. "Supporting nature and doing the right thing even when they are away from their homeland shows how much the U.S. military appreciates nature and Dongducheon."
The Soldiers paired up with the volunteers and spent the afternoon collecting over 100 bags of trash and debris from a 1 mile area along the Shincheon River.
"The support from the U.S. military is most helpful," said Jang Uisoon, a chairman of Dongducheon Do Dream Center. "We believe the Shincheon River is the spine that flows through the heart of Dongducheon. Keeping the Shincheon River clean will boost the morale of all residents of Dongducheon."
Social Sharing