Don't trash Jacksonville!

Hospital Security Leading Chief Petty Officer MAC Chad Stich challenged his security personnel to get behind a volunteer program to benefit the community. They settled on participating in the state's Adopt-A-Highway program. Stich said, "The members of my department felt that the Navy is part of the community and that they should do their part to help keep the environment clean and to be good neighbors."

SH3 Stephen Robinson, who is now serving at NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, took the ball and ran with it. He laid the groundwork, making initial contacts with the Florida Department of Transportation to adopt the roadway and to secure appropriate signage designating the area as adopted by the hospital. The Security Department pulled in co-workers from throughout the Director for Administration's Departments for the initial cleanup date, July 12. Stich said the project could be opened to all hospital volunteers in future cleanups.

Photos by HN Leeann Lowman Naval Hospital Jacksonville Adopt-A-Highway volunteers, left to right, back row, CS2 Roosevelt Overton, CS1 Kenny Johnson, SHCS Gary Sleeseman, SH2 Jeremy Banks, CS2 Ceciliao Inniss, MA1 Tom Mace, MAC Chad Stich. Front row, PC3 Daryl Denhoed, CS2 Sonny Lalatag and CS3 Julie Marsh.

Nine hospital volunteers helped pick up trash on July 12. They picked up 19 bags of trash, totaling 250 pounds. They found seven tires, one large sign and four 30-foot lengths of PVC tubing. These items were placed on the side of the road at a pre-designated pick-up site for Department of Transportation crews.

The next cleanup day is scheduled for Aug. 23. For information on volunteering with the Naval Hospital Jax Security Department, volunteers can call Stich at 542-9675 or e-mail chad.stich@med.navy.mil. Stich is also happy to provide information to other commands or departments on how to adopt a highway.

Adopt-A-Highway volunteers from the Naval Hospital Jax Security Department walk down a grassy lot cleaning up debris during the July kick-off of the hospitalÕs Adopt-A-Highway program. 07-070C CS2 Ceciliao Innis, CS2 Sonny Lalatag and SH2 Jeremy Banks stuff a bag with litter for pick-up.