thedrifter
11-28-06, 10:49 AM
Local News
Marines pledge muscle for Wetlands playground
BY DARIN FENGER, SUN STAFF WRITER
Nov 27, 2006
It's not often that Marines get deployed to a playground.
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma announced recently that it plans to pledge several hundred Marines to help bolster the small army of volunteers needed to build a huge playground in February.
Marine leaders say that their men and women won't just be following orders then, however. They'll probably be following their hearts, too.
"Oh, Marines love kids. This project is perfect," said Sgt. Maj. Manuel Garibay. "Marines love doing this type of stuff."
Organizers say Stewart Vincent Wolfe Memorial Playground will be built in February at Yuma's West Wetlands Park. They also say that the playground will be the biggest in all of Arizona.
The Marine Corps joins scores of organizations, churches, businesses and families signing up to help do everything from swing a hammer to serve a lunch.
Garibay stressed that his Marines volunteering won't just see this as a good chance to help, but also as a great way to pay one back to Yuma.
"What's great about Yuma is this is a community that really loves its Marines and sailors," he said. "This is a way for us to give back to our community. Plus, we live here and we have families, too. So this will be a great chance for us to get out there and meet our neighbors."
He added, too, that seeing Marines help build a playground just might be a learning opportunity.
"Some people think we're just about going where the war is. Maybe they don't realize everything a Marine can do. I think these Marines are going to be good role models."
As examples of recent community involvement by Marines, Garibay pointed to work done on the Armed Forces Park, as well as to a Single Marines program at a local animal shelter.
"We have Marines reading to kids, going to visit veterans in nursing homes. You want something done and there's Marines out there doing it," he said.
The estimated number of Marines for the West Wetlands playground ranges from 200 to 400, but Garibay said the first figure is probably a lot more likely. He added that the volunteers won't just go all on one day, either, but will pick up shifts throughout the week.
"Marines don't look at the clock, though," he said, laughing. "They're just going to be there to get the job done. Seeing all the smiles on the kids' faces one day, that's what we're going to be out there for."
Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.
Ellie
Marines pledge muscle for Wetlands playground
BY DARIN FENGER, SUN STAFF WRITER
Nov 27, 2006
It's not often that Marines get deployed to a playground.
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma announced recently that it plans to pledge several hundred Marines to help bolster the small army of volunteers needed to build a huge playground in February.
Marine leaders say that their men and women won't just be following orders then, however. They'll probably be following their hearts, too.
"Oh, Marines love kids. This project is perfect," said Sgt. Maj. Manuel Garibay. "Marines love doing this type of stuff."
Organizers say Stewart Vincent Wolfe Memorial Playground will be built in February at Yuma's West Wetlands Park. They also say that the playground will be the biggest in all of Arizona.
The Marine Corps joins scores of organizations, churches, businesses and families signing up to help do everything from swing a hammer to serve a lunch.
Garibay stressed that his Marines volunteering won't just see this as a good chance to help, but also as a great way to pay one back to Yuma.
"What's great about Yuma is this is a community that really loves its Marines and sailors," he said. "This is a way for us to give back to our community. Plus, we live here and we have families, too. So this will be a great chance for us to get out there and meet our neighbors."
He added, too, that seeing Marines help build a playground just might be a learning opportunity.
"Some people think we're just about going where the war is. Maybe they don't realize everything a Marine can do. I think these Marines are going to be good role models."
As examples of recent community involvement by Marines, Garibay pointed to work done on the Armed Forces Park, as well as to a Single Marines program at a local animal shelter.
"We have Marines reading to kids, going to visit veterans in nursing homes. You want something done and there's Marines out there doing it," he said.
The estimated number of Marines for the West Wetlands playground ranges from 200 to 400, but Garibay said the first figure is probably a lot more likely. He added that the volunteers won't just go all on one day, either, but will pick up shifts throughout the week.
"Marines don't look at the clock, though," he said, laughing. "They're just going to be there to get the job done. Seeing all the smiles on the kids' faces one day, that's what we're going to be out there for."
Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.
Ellie