MIAMI – Members of the Coast Guard family stationed throughout South Florida will volunteer their support for the 24th Annual International Coastal Cleanup on South Beach, Fla., between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday.
Nearly 300 Coast Guard personnel are scheduled to walk the shores of South Beach between 10th Street and Government Cut helping the Miami-Dade Coastal Cleanup project in an effort to remove trash and debris littering the world-renowned tourist destination.
“Last year, the Coast Guard and other local organizations collected 488 bags of trash and other debris during the International Coastal Cleanup,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “This year, I’m again thrilled to participate with the Coast Guard and other organization’s volunteers to clean up our magnificent shoreline.”
“The cleanup is not only rewarding for the community but extends into the educational system, teaching future generations the necessity of keeping our land-based trash from further polluting our waters,” said Joel Aberbach, the Seventh Coast Guard District Auxiliary assistant marine safety staff officer. “Environmental protection is, of course, one of our major responsibilities and we take it very seriously.”
Thousands of volunteers worldwide representing more than 80 countries will head to shores, riverbanks, beaches and reefs Sept. 19 to remove debris that can potentially harm wildlife and choke waterways with pollution.
