WAIPAHU, Hawaii -- Marines from Combat Service Support Group 3 and Marine Forces Pacific, along with members of the Waipahu Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1572, spent three hours beautifying the landscape at the Waipahu Cultural Center, Aug. 6.
Once the labor was completed, the three groups had time to interact and share their personal experiences as service members as well as individuals.
“It was nice to get a chance to get Marines out here to help these veterans,” said Staff Sgt. Edward S. Garcia, operations chief, G-3, Marine Forces Pacific.
Garcia is also the senior vice commander of the VFW Post and the organizer of the Marines who volunteered their time in Waipahu.
A flood at the center nearly six-months ago caused a lot of damage to the gardens, fences and vegetation in the lower valley.
The work the Marines helped with consisted of clearing debris, planting native flora and chopping down trees to clear room for gardens.
After receiving a tour of the garden area, complete with examples of what trees were used for by native Hawaiians and visitors, the Marines and veterans turned to their morning of beautification.
“I was happy to get a chance to spend a morning with Marines from my section,” said Sgt. Santiago Kaites, platoon sergeant, Storage, Supply Company, CSSG-3. “We don’t get the chance to build camaraderie a lot, so this was great.”
Kaites, a Riverside, Calif. native, spent the morning planting Polynesian taro stalks with help from Lance Cpl. Andrea Vela, warehouseman, Storage, Supply Company, CSSG-3.
For years, members of the VFW group have been volunteering their time in their local area and said they are more than pleased to have help from a younger generation of military members.
“We are very happy to see the young Marines out here,” explained Ben Acohido, post commander. “Many of the members of our post are sick and elderly, so the help is really appreciated. Some of us come out and do what we can, but we get so much more done with help.”
Garcia has organized the volunteers twice, but said he intends on continuing to get them involved.
“We do volunteer work here once every two months,” said Garcia, the former company gunnery sergeant of Supply Company, CSSG. “I hope to keep getting larger numbers of willing volunteers. Even though it is on the weekend, I think it is really a worthwhile event.”
Once the physical work was complete, everyone gathered for a potluck-style lunch compete with cornbread, soup, and watermelon for dessert.
Some of the veterans shared stories with the younger service members about the history of the post and the requirements of joining the VFW. Some of the Marines were eligible and didn’t know it.
“You need to meet certain requirements such as having received a Combat Action Ribbon, Campaign, or Expeditionary Medal or the equivalent badge,” explained Garcia. “A lot of Marines don’t know enough about the benefits of being a member of the VFW. I hope that by bringing younger generations of military members out to interact with the post members, they will gain a better understanding of what the VFW is all about.”
When all was said and done, the Marines conquered their final obstacle, a giant log, before heading back to base.
“I had a really good time, and I would definitely do it again,” said Kaites. “I learned a lot, and the center looks beautiful again.”
For more information about volunteering, contact Staff Sgt. Garcia at 477-8624.