Eagle Eye on Gardening Published April 30, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Lee A. Osberry Jr. 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs THETFORD, England -- The Boy Scouts of America Troop 219 teamed with members from the 48th Medical Group and the Lakenheath High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps to clean-up a gardening area, construct two gardening boxes and install a water collection system at Raleigh Nursery and Junior School April 22, 2012. Isaiah Roehm, team leader and then Eagle Scout candidate, developed the project as a means to give back to the Thetford community where he and his family live and to recognize Earth Day. "I selected this project, so I could give back to the community that welcomed my family when we moved here," said Roehm. "There's a long history of beautiful gardens in the area, and I wanted to contribute to that legacy." Roehm coordinated the project for more than three months, and Airmen from the 48th MDG donated more than 400 pounds (approximately $650.00). Additionally members from LHS JROTC class UK-073 and the MDG's outpatient records department volunteered their time to pull the project off. "It was about team building ... it wasn't just military, but all of us working together to get the project done," said Airman 1st Class Kyle Vetter, 48th Medical Support Squadron outpatient record technician. By the day's end, more than 25 bags of compost were removed and nearly 80 man-hours were given to the cause, but to the volunteers it was worth it. "I felt really good. We helped out the school and it was fun too," said Airman 1st Class Brandon Warnock, 48th MDSS, outpatient record technician. One of the key additions in the garden was the construction of a new water retention system. Previously students and teachers would have to carry containers approximately 200 feet to fill and return to water the garden. "We are quite a long distance from the school. There (wasn't) water here," said Daphne Rothwell, the school's head teacher. "Having the water butts (canisters) is solving a good problem for us really." While clearing and construction were high on the agenda for the group, the impact was further reaching. The relations between British and American citizens in the U.K. have continued for more than 70 years and was acknowledged at the grand opening of the newly refurbished garden on April 24, 2012. "You've always been a part of the community. This means so much for the children and I thank you for the community," said Councillor Derek Mortimer, Mayor of Thetford. This effort was just another building block to reinforce the central relationship between the two nations. That sentiment was echoed by Col. James M. Durant III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe--United Kingdom director of legal services. "What you've done today is ratified that belief, that feeling, the emphasis we place on (our) central (U.S./U.K.) relationship," he said.