Earth Week kicked off at Naval Support Activity Bethesda with a forum in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's Clark Auditorium April 19.

The event began with some words on this important week by NSAB Commanding Officer Navy Capt. Marvin L. Jones.

"Today, as we celebrate the 46th Earth Week, we're provided with a great opportunity to learn more about our world and how we can better take care of it," said Jones. "Throughout the Navy, both here in the U.S. and around the world, on ships at sea and on our bases in foreign countries, Earth Week is being celebrated to commemorate and remind us of our commitment to protect the environment."

The forum, led by representatives from NASA and a retired naval officer, raised awareness of the quantifiable effects that humans have had upon the Earth.

Speakers included: Dr. James Iron, deputy director of the Earth Sciences Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Dr. Carlos Del Castillo, chief of the Ocean Ecology Laboratory at NASA GSFC, and retired Navy Cmdr. David Fryauff, former deputy head of the Military Malaria Vaccine Program.

The Earth Week celebrations will continue throughout the week, main events included a base-wide cleanup April 20 and a tree-planting ceremony April 21 with many other events as well.

As Jones said, "we all share in the responsibility of being involved and making a difference." Join us for the remaining events planned for this week.

For more information on Earth Week events, check the NSAB facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda/

For more news from Naval Support Activity Bethesda, visit www.navy.mil/