CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Oct. 30, 2012) -- More than one hundred local Japanese guests including children and their parents were invited to an annual Friendship Halloween event hosted by the 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Sagami General Depot Oct. 29.
The children were from LCA Kokusai Elementary School and Hoshigaoka community in Sagamihara city.
35th CSSB soldiers spent a couple of weeks transforming their headquarters building into a haunted house to show how the holiday is celebrated in the U.S. Attractions inside the building to entertain the children included a zombie room and bobbing for apples.
"The main purpose of the event is to foster our relationship with the local community, and to let them know we are good stewards and respect their culture and community," said Lt. Col. Joseph O. Ritter, commander of the 35th CSSB. "We really try to show them our goodwill for being such a good hosts here in Japan. Some of them were really scared going to the zombie room, but they know it's all in good fun, and in the end, they got their reward with a treat."
The children walked office to office saying their newly learned English phrase, 'trick or treat' while they saw spooky deco¬rations, candy and people dressed in scary costumes. The event provided 35th CSSB Soldiers and their family members the opportunity to interact with children from the local community.
"It was very fun and scary," said Noa Inoue, a fourth grader at LCA Kokusai Elementary School. "I was scared of a gorilla jumping in the dark room, and the Super Mario Bros pumpkin carving decoration was so cute. I love Halloween and want to come back here again."
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