DEDEDO, Guam -- DEDEDO, Guam – U.S. Marines and civilian personnel from Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz partnered with the Dededo Mayor’s office on Feb. 5, 2024, to touch up a bus stop previously painted and decorated by Marines in 2021.
This past week Marines took time to revisit the bus stop to clean up the area and touch up paint after the walls became riddled with graffiti. This bus stop is kept up and cleaned routinely as one of many island beautification projects undertaken by Marines stationed on MCB Camp Blaz and civilian volunteers.
Guam and Marine Corps history alike is honored with a mural of Brigadier General Vincente T. Blaz, also known as Ben Blaz, on the back of the bus stop found across from Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS). The bus stop pays tribute to the first Chamorro Marine Corps general officer and the namesake of the new Marine Corps base. Blaz first enlisted in the Marine Corps reserve in 1951 and continued to serve honorably for 29 years until retiring in 1980. To date, he remains the highest-ranking Chamorro in Marine Corps history.
After Blaz’s retirement from the Marine Corps, he was elected to congress 1984 and was a part of the Armed Services, Resources and Foreign Affairs Committee. During his time in congress, he established a reputation as a strong advocate for national defense, as well as committing to the political development of Guam. He eventually retired from congress in 1992 leaving his legacy as a hero to Guam.
Uriah Perez, MCB Camp Blaz community liaison specialist, spoke on why it is so important to keep this bus stop and surrounding area looking clean and up to date.
“This is the first bus stop tied to Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. Maintaining it and its surroundings is important because children from the neighboring area catch the bus here in the morning and get dropped off after school,” Perez said. “We monitor the condition of the bus stop and try to act quickly when we notice graffiti to refresh the area with a fresh coat of paint.”
MCB Camp Blaz not only sponsors and maintains this bus stop, but they continually strive to better the island.
“There are a whole host of projects that we take part in. We have a great working relationship with Finegayan Elementary and their principal Marites Garcia where we assist them in preparation for the start and end of the school year,” said Perez. “All these relationships are important and allow for the integrating of Marines with our community. Through these partnerships, the Marines learn firsthand about the place they live, work, and train, from people who are directly impacted by their presence.”
Marines are committed to bettering their community and strengthening their relations with Guam and its community.