More than 500 Sailors and civilians helped clean the streets around Naval Base San Diego (NBSD), May 11, during the 22nd bi-annual Main Street Cleanup.
The Main Street Cleanup focuses on picking up trash around the community and demonstrates how Sailors help maintain a relationship with adjacent National City, Calif.
The volunteers represented more than 20 different local commands.
“Our men and women that serve in the Navy have two callings in life. The first calling is to serve our country and defend our freedom, and our second calling is community service and being selfless servants,” said Capt. Winton Smith, commanding officer of NBSD. Smith noted the cleanup is an opportunity for Sailors and their families to help the surrounding community of NBSD by cleaning up the streets and building a relationship with the city.
Ron Morrison, National City mayor, said the Main Street Cleanup shows the people of National City that the Navy does take an interest in the community instead of just staying behind the gate.
Sailors covered a seven-mile radius on the cleanup, stretching from the southern city limits of San Diego to downtown National City.
“They do a great job,” said Morrison. “You can really see a huge difference if you were to go through the streets tomorrow.”
Last fall, Sailors picked up more than 7,000 pounds of trash.
[mappress] Press Release, May 14, 2013; Image: EPA