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NEWS | May 1, 2017

63rd RSC commanding general raise awareness for Earth Day in multiple communities

By Sgt. 1st Class LaTonya Kelly 63rd Regional Support Command

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. ----The 63d Regional Support Command participated in raising awareness during the national celebration of Earth Day in Mountain View, Calif. and Grand Prairie, Texas, April 20-22.

The celebratory kick off for the Earth Day began at the Sgt. James Witkowski Armed Forces Reserve Center in Mountain View with soldiers, multiple community partners, local vendors and neighboring elementary schools.

The 63rd RSC commanding general, Maj. Gen. Brian E. Alvin, presented awards and provided open remarks at both events about maintaining a sustainable environment through stewardship and vigilance.

“Our theme for this year is “Partners for a Sustainable Community, and our goal today is to inspire awareness and appreciation of the environment. The 63rd RSC takes great pride in its commitment to the environment,” said, Alvin.

Over 15 eco-friendly vendors interacted with the Mountain View community to enforce the importance of conserving energy, recycling and obeying environmental laws.

The 63rd RSC Department of Public Works coordinated the planning for the Earth Day and explained the purpose of having a select variety of vendors for maximum participation.

“We strived to have a diversified selection of vendors to showcase all the different elements of environmental protection and awareness to get the youth and community engaged, said 63rd RSC Environmental Specialist, Brendon Coye.

Some Earth Day booths contained a mobile petting zoo, natural chemistry experiments, animalistic face painting and solar energy cooking devices.

“One of the many Earth Day goals of DPW was to introduce environmental awareness while highlighting the importance of sustainability to the younger generation,” said Coye.

Maj. Gen. Alvin also informed the community about the 63rd RSC’s proactive approach in incorporating sustainability within the seven state regions throughout, Calif., Texas, Ariz., Nev., N.M., Okla., and Ark.

“Sustainability is integral to the performance of the military mission. America’s military departments must have the energy, land, air, and water resources necessary to train and operate today and into the future, in a world where there is increasing competition for resources, “ said Alvin.

One of the highlights of Alvin’s speech addressed how the 63rd RSC won the 2016 Secretary of the Army Energy and Water Management Award for energy efficiency and energy management.

During the 6th Annual Main Street Fest in Grand Prairie, Maj. Gen. Alvin spoke to an audience of over 20,000 visitors about the Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Complex in Texas and their commitment to stewardship of the environment and lands where Soldiers, families and civilians train, live and work.

“In Texas we have installed photo voltaic arrays in Fort Bliss, Bryant and San Marcos, as well as tapped into geothermal heating and cooling in Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Bryant, Texas,” said Alvin.

After sharing a renewed commitment to protect the natural environment every day, Alvin was followed by the 395th U.S Army Band stationed in Mustang, Okla.

During the festival, the 395th Army Band provided an array of music from the community stage while military vendors hosted an Earth Day inspired KIDZONE with games, crafts, and carnival rides.

“It’s rewarding to be affiliated with both Earth Day events involving the 63rd RSC because the partnership with local communities in Grand Prairie, Texas and Mountain View, Calif. will contribute to a healthier environment and better world,” said 63rd RSC Environmental Specialist, Wendy Greene.

Alvin ended his multiple visits with recognizing community partners with environmental awards and encouraging everyone to take an active role in sustaining the Earth’s resources.