Liberty Pride Day sets stage for community improvement Published March 5, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Dana J. Butler 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The 48th Fighter Wing will host the first Liberty Pride Day on base and throughout the local area April 27. The intent of Liberty Pride Day is to make a difference in the community and to help bolster a sense of pride in the community both on and off base. To help out, Airmen should submit ideas that help improve the base and surrounding community. Airmen should then get a group together, pick a project and work to impact the lives of people within the RAF Lakenheath community in a new, creative and positive way. Members of the base community can submit ideas for improvement projects either on base or in the local area. The project could be as simple as picking up trash or as challenging as taking on an area in the dorms that needs paint or refurbishment work. "It doesn't necessarily have to be a physical fix-it project, for example, making cards for people who aren't well, visiting people in a nursing home or clothing donations," said Maureen Robinson, Liberty Pride Day advisor and wife of Col. Kyle Robinson, 48th FW commander. "One of the things you could do is just donate toward the dinner at the end of the day." Project ideas welcomed for submission must be completed in one day and are in RAFs Lakenheath, Feltwell or in the local community. "I think we would like to see some of the activities happen off base in the British community and show our British friends that we really care about living here and living with them," said Robinson. "We are also hoping that some of the British people that work here on base might also want to get involved in projects." According to Staff Sgt. Joel Martycz, 48th Component Maintenance Squadron electrical and environmental systems craftsman and Liberty Pride Day advisor, the day will give members a chance to show "pride" by giving back to the installation and community that supports RAFL, while giving every active duty, civilian, and dependent an equal share in the ownership and support of the wing. "On a personal level I'd like to see people come out and boost morale. It is also a way to make new friends and build camaraderie and self esteem," said Christy Rasmussen, 48th Medical Group administrative medical technician and Liberty Pride Day committee member. "For me it's more of the feel good aspect of it and in the mean time, you get to appreciate all the improvements that have been made." According to Rasmussen, Liberty Pride Day is unique in that fact that it is a large-scale day of giving back where an individual can submit his or her idea for a project, then get their friends, family, sports team, church group, club or shop together and see the project all the way through from start to finish in just one day. "I think people would be happy to put efforts toward something they believe in," said Rasmussen. To learn more about Liberty Pride Day or to submit project ideas, e-mail Libertyprideday@gmail.com.