Base Beautification Day

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jonathan Stokes, 175th Maintenance Squadron, plants flowers April 25, 2014 during Base Beautification Day at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md. Base Beautification Day gives members of the 175th Wing the opportunity to improve the cleanliness and aesthetics of their outside work areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Chris Schepers/RELEASED)

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Base Beautification Day

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Doug Smith (left), 175th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Maj. Robert Conover, 175th Logistics Readiness Squadron, take a break from mulching one of the many gardens at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md., during Base Beautification Day, April 25, 2014. Base Beautification Day gives members of the 175th Wing the opportunity to improve the cleanliness and aesthetics of their outside work areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Chris Schepers/RELEASED)

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Base Beautification Day

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jujuan Bradford, 175th Operations Group, weeds a garden April 25, 2014 during Base Beautification Day at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md. Base Beautification Day gives members of the 175th Wing the opportunity to improve the cleanliness and aesthetics of their outside work areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Chris Schepers/RELEASED)

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Base Beautification Day

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Sara Nittinger, 175th Civil Engineering Squadron, uses an edger April 25, 2014 during Base Beautification Day at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md. Base Beautification Day gives members of the 175th Wing the opportunity to improve the cleanliness and aesthetics of their outside work areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Chris Schepers/RELEASED)

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Base Beautification Day

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Maria Terry, 175th Comptroller Flight, takes a break from raking up debris April 25, 2014 during Base Beautification Day at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md. Base Beautification Day gives members of the 175th Wing the opportunity to improve the cleanliness and aesthetics of their outside work areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Chris Schepers/RELEASED)

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Base Beautification Day

Debbie Willders (left), 175th Comptroller Flight, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Alonda Foster, 175th Comptroller Flight, bag up leaves April 25, 2014 during Base Beautification Day at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Baltimore, Md. Base Beautification Day gives members of the 175th Wing the opportunity to improve the cleanliness and aesthetics of their outside work areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Chris Schepers/RELEASED)

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Wing celebrates Earth Day by hosting Base Beautification Day

Published April 25, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. Chris Schepers
175th Wing Public Affairs

Baltimore -- More than 75 airmen from the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, helped clean up Warfield Air National Guard base during the annual Base Beautification Day, April 25, 2014.

Base Beautification Day is an annual event that was envisioned by Brig. Gen. Scott Kelly, 175th Wing commander, when he was the Mission Support Group commander to help keep the base as clean as possible to help minimize the wing's negative effect on the environment.

"Our Wing is committed to the environment, we consider this base a part of the Middle River community and is as much our community as it is the local residents, and we will take care of it. It pleases me to know that this event continues to this day since its inception when I was the Mission Support Group commander", said Kelly.

The event, organized and led by the 175th Mission Support Group with assistance from the Chief's Council, drew many airmen out of their work areas to take part in the post-Earth Day event. Participants were given the opportunity to assist in numerous activities aimed at improving the cleanliness and appearance of the base. These activities included mulching gardens, planting flowers and picking up trash.

"I feel that it is our responsibility to give back to the base and the environment in any way we can so to be out here cleaning the base is something that I look forward to doing every year ", explained U.S. Staff Sgt. Jennifer Wyrick, 175th Comptroller Flight.

This year's Base Beautification Day was a huge success as the participating members were able to re-mulch numerous flower beds and plant a variety of flowers in a number of gardens located around the base. They were also able to collect many bags of trash that otherwise would have polluted the base and surrounding community.

Base Beautification Day comes shortly after a ceremony for the opening of a brand new 175th Wing Headquarters building which was constructed to meet LEED Silver Certified standards that include multiple energy saving materials and systems to include sustainable green roofs.