12.11.2020
Story by Lance Cpl. Faith Rose
Marine Corps Installations Pacific
CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan - U.S. Marines, sailors and families gathered together to partake in a tree lighting ceremony on Camp Kinser on Dec. 11. The event was open to service members and their families to enjoy a traditional holiday activity less than two weeks before Christmas Day.
Col. Omar J. Randall, the Camp Kinser commanding officer, and Marine Corps Community Services hosted the tree lighting ceremony as an opportunity for service members to enjoy the holidays away from home.
“We have enforced social distancing to the best extent possible, with that we tried to find a venue that was large enough so people could spread out. Over 100 individuals came out and enjoyed the ceremony’s good food and music,” said Randall “With the weather forecast, we originally expected a very small crowd, but we were surprised and glad so many people came to the event. I think so many people showed up because they want to go out and enjoy the holidays.”
Camp Kinser Camp Guard and MCCS workers worked diligently to enforce COVID-19 mitigation procedures to create a safe, fun environment for service members and families to enjoy the holidays overseas. With the health and safety of everyone in mind, commands still encourage service members to enjoy the holiday spirit in any way they can.
This year’s Camp Kinser tree lighting ceremony included the following events: photos with Santa, a holiday float display, tree lighting ceremony, and III Marine Expeditionary Force Band holiday concert.
“I came with my wife and my two boys, Alexander and Peter,” said Capt. Ryan Malanchuk, a network director with G6 Information Technology, Marine Corps Installations Pacific “Even with social distancing and COVID-19 in place, they [MCCS] were still able to host pictures with Santa. It was great to get photos with Santa, Peter has never seen him before.”
Units across Camp Kinser came together to participate in decorating different military vehicles for a parade float decorating contest. Each unit that participated designed a float that was unique to the Marines demonstrating unit pride.
“It’s nice to see the smiles on the Marines and families faces, having the opportunity to come out and enjoy the food, get some pictures with the holiday floats, and with the Christmas tree,” said Randall.
Other tree-lighting ceremonies are being hosted throughout Okinawa as well as in Combined Armed Training Center Camp Fuji and Marine Corps Airstation Iwakuni.
For more information about MCCS events and services, visit https://www.mccsokinawa.com/ or your base’s MCCS page on Facebook.
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