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Volunteers take ownership of Memorial Lake

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Destinee Sweeney
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Team Shaw volunteers began reconstructing the overflow bridge at Memorial Lake at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Feb. 5.

The bridge is part of a Memorial Lake beautification project which started in 2017 where volunteers took ownership of the center of Shaw to improve the park.

“Phase I was cleaning up the lake, phase II was to renovate the bridge and the gazebo next to it, and phase III is to finish the overflow bridge and remove the old benches,” said 1st Lt. Alvin Yip, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy officer in charge of requirements and optimization. “Memorial Lake is the geographical center of the base. It’s also a focal point of the base (for the community).”

The overflow bridge helps channel excess water and prevent flooding during torrential rain.

“When the water gets way too high it flows through the canal and into the drains,” said Yip. “Then those drains run into the main water drains that run throughout base which carry the water out.”

The volunteers used their varied woodworking expertise and joined together to determine how to build the new bridge after demolishing the old. The volunteers also began removing old park benches.

“(Projects like these) definitely help people to take ownership,” said 2nd Lt. Stone Williford, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron real property specialist and volunteer. “They all feel like they did something here and left their footprint on the base.”

Memorial Lake is home to the Shaw Fallen Airmen Memorial as well as a recreational location for Team Shaw members to enjoy. The overflow bridge construction is expected to be complete Feb. 13.