22 Navy Sailors Clean Guam Beach on Shore Leave

When sailors from a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier get shore leave, most head straight for rest and relaxation. Twenty-two crew members from the USS George Washington chose to spend their precious free time cleaning up Ypao Beach instead.

The volunteers from the ship's Command Religious Ministry Division partnered with Guam Visitors Bureau maintenance workers on June 18 to beautify Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park. Together, they collected ten bags of trash from the beachside and throughout the park.

The cleanup happened during the carrier's port visit to Apra Harbor, where the crew was docked for Exercise Valiant Shield 2026. The sailors could have been anywhere during their liberty, but they chose to give back to the community hosting them.

"When our visiting military service members dedicate their precious free time to making Guam a better place to live, work, and visit, it supports the spirit of inafa'maolek," said Régine Biscoe Lee, general manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau. The Chamorro phrase means restoring harmony and making things right for one another.

The Ripple Effect

This beach cleanup represents more than just bags of collected trash. It shows how military personnel stationed far from home can build bridges with local communities through simple acts of service.

The effort reflects a growing trend of service members using shore leave for community improvement projects. When the Navy visits ports around the world, these voluntary cleanup efforts help strengthen relationships between military installations and the communities that host them.

Robert Lizama, acting director of Guam's Department of Parks and Recreation, praised the sailors' dedication. Their willingness to serve the communities they visit, he noted, reflects the same spirit of partnership that makes military-civilian cooperation successful.

The clean beach will now welcome both residents and tourists to enjoy one of Guam's most popular parks.