Airmen lend a hand to Dededo

by Krystal Paco

Guam - COPE North exercises on Andersen Air Force Base may be in full swing, but that's not stopping airmen from lending a hand to the local community. Dededo mayor Melissa Savares says 170 U.S., Australian, and Japanese airmen volunteered over the weekend to paint, landscape, and make repairs to the Guma San Jose Homeless Shelter, Finegayan Elementary, Wettengel Elementary, and Dededo Veterans Park.

"It really makes a difference when we hear all these people who are making the noise early in the morning and throughout the day come in and see what they can do to help us in the community," she said.

Close to 2,000 airmen are participating in the annual exercise which rounds out this week.