Gettysburg Cleanup

(Left to right) Staff Sgt. Jessie Ogden, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Joe Allen, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, clip tree branches from the fence lines and stone walls during the annual Gettysburg Cleanup Oct. 2. More than 50 Team Dover volunteers cleared away debris at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu)

Gettysburg Cleanup

Staff Sgt. Shawn Bishop, 436th Maintenance Squadron, uses a sickle to remove leaves from fence lines and stone walls during the annual Gettysburg Cleanup Oct. 2. There were more than 50 Team Dover volunteers at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu)

Restoring Gettysburg: Airmen help maintain national military park

Published Oct. 8, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
436th AW Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Team Dover volunteers helped clean up Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania Oct. 2.

The Gettysburg Cleanup is a semi-annual event hosted by the Air Force Sergeants Association and the First Sergeants Association.

"We gladly take part in giving back to the community through our service," said Master Sgt. Richard Bryant, 436th Maintenance Operations Squadron first sergeant, who helped organized the event.

More than 50 volunteers helped to restore fence lines, and stone walls, and clear away plants and debris from a frequently visited area of the battlefield, according to Angel Dejesus, GNMP facility manager specialist adopted position coordinator.

"It is an honor to have the Airmen serving us today by maintaining this marker, though it is honor enough that they are serving our country," said Mr. Dejesus. "With their help we are making this a pristine and valuable battlefield that would have probably been untouched otherwise.

"There are more sites that are needing care and we have a tight budget, so it is a blessing that Air Force members came to assist," he said.

One Airman was happy for the opportunity to give back to his hometown by lending a hand.

"I volunteered to clean up a part of my hometown because I want to keep it beautiful," said Airman 1st Class Manny Jacoby, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "I enjoy the scenery here, especially Devil's Den, and overall, lending a helping hand was a good experience."

Other volunteers offer their service for personal reasons.

"Some volunteers help out because their ancestors have fought here," said Mr. Dejesus. "The landmark being restored is hallowed ground. Soldiers fought here to bring a nation together."

The tradition of the Gettysburg Cleanup is an important trip for Team Dover members to participate in because they will learn something about their nation's history, said Sergeant Bryant.

"I hope our volunteers can take something out of this trip, showing a sense of service and representing our Wing and the Air Force," he said. "It's really satisfying to see the immediate impact we have on the community because we see what we were able to accomplish at the end of the day."