JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
More than 260 volunteers gathered along shorelines around Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., June 1 to participate in the 25th annual Clean the Bay Day, a Virginia-wide effort to remove refuse and trash from waterfronts.
The Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem contains more than 1,500 square miles of wetlands that provide habitats for fish, shellfish and wildlife. Clean the Bay Day helps maintain this ecosystem by removing unwanted debris from the environment.
Armed with gloves, trash bags and litter grabbers, Airmen, Soldiers, civilians and family members removed garbage around the waterlines of JBLE in an effort to beautify shorelines, fight pollution and help the environment.
"I like cleaning the bay because it's helping the animals," said 10-year-old Kayley Torres, daughter of Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Torres 633rd Air Base Wing Equal Opportunity Office equal opportunity specialist.
Clean the Bay Day wasn't just an opportunity for military personnel and their families. Members of the local community also came out, including members of Boy Scout Troop 43 and Cub Scout Pack 143 from Newport News, Va., who have been participating in Clean the Bay Day for more than 20 years.
"Scouting is about giving back to the community," said Randy Jennings, district commissioner for scouting. "That's why this event is important to us."
This year volunteers cleaned 13 miles of shoreline and collected approximately 3,740 pounds of garbage, including unique items such as old crab traps, tires, a cutting board and a pallet-jack base.
Removing items from the shoreline helps alleviate threats to JBLE wildlife, said Timothy P. Christensen, 733rd Civil Engineer Division conservation branch chief. Recently, a member of the 733rd CED found an Osprey at Fort Eustis that had strangled itself with fishing line.
"When you go out and pick up all this trash, it's more than just about aesthetics," said Christensen. "You're also helping out wildlife."
With five total miles of shoreline cleaned on Langley alone, volunteers were able to see first-hand the harmful, visible effects of litter on the environment and surrounding ecosystems, said Michael Mallozzi, 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron water quality asset manager.
"Something as simple as picking up after yourself can make a huge difference," he said. "I want the volunteers to realize that if we come together as a community, we can accomplish great things."
While Clean the Bay Day is an impactful event that only occurs once a year, it is everyone's responsibility to ensure we keep our environment clean year-round, ensuring our surrounding ecosystems stay free of harmful pollution.