Service members help secure the Big Wrap

  • Published
  • By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corwin Colbert
  • Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs
SANTA RITA, Guam --  Service members on Guam spent their Saturday morning wrapping gifts for the 27th Annual Sugar Plum Tree's Big Wrap at the Bank of Hawaii in Hagatna, Guam Dec. 10.

The Big Wrap is the traditional conclusion to the Sugar Plum Tree gift-giving project where volunteers join together to wrap all the gifts donated by individuals who selected a name from the Sugar Plum Tree this year.

Sugar Plum Tree executive director Kathy Kernaghan said service members teamed up to help out the community wrap 991 packages of gift to families, children, disabled and senior citizens who are less fortunate. Military service members on Guam along with their families also donated some of the gifts.

"Many of the military will go and pick a name off the tree and buy them a gift," Kernaghan said. "It's amazing how many military people came this year. I was so thrilled when I saw all the yellow shirts come through the door."

Service members from the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, U.S. Naval Base Guam security and Sailors from the Hawaii-based missile destroyer USS Chafee ( DDG 90) and landing dock USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52), who are in Guam for a port visit, attended the event.

Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Larae Baker and Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW) Lewis Policard of Chafee said despite being away from home they couldn't pass up an opportunity to help out those in need.

"If I was in Hawaii instead of here I would be doing the same thing," Baker said. "It's good the Navy comes out and supports the community."

Policard believed volunteering for the event was part of his military obligation to serve his country and support the different communities he is able to visit during his career.

"I think it is really important show that the military is a part of the community," he said. "If we aren't out defending the country we are here showing how great America is and how good the people are."

Capt. Jacob Cambione of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Air Force Global Strike Command said Guam has been great to him and the rest of his command while they've been deployed here, so it only made sense to return the gesture.

"It is important to help out the people of Guam because they have been such a graceful host," Cambione said. "We wanted to give back to the community."