DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Leadership from the 436th Airlift Wing welcomed Japanese delegates from the Miyagi prefecture during a visit here Nov. 6, 2017.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the sister state relationship between the state of Delaware and the Miyagi Prefecture and on this special occasion we are very happy to be here and I’m especially honored to be able to visit Dover Air Force Base and to meet all of you as well,” said Akiyoshi Kawabata, Miyagi Prefecture vice governor.
Dover, Delaware, is considered a “friendship city” to Iwanuma, Japan, which is located in the prefecture. Prefectures are areas of Japan that are divided into local government. This is comparable to a state or a province in other countries.
Dover AFB also has a history with the coastal Japanese community. In 2011,a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit the northern coast of Japan and was followed by a major tsunami. More than 15,000 residents were killed, more than 250,000 buildings were ruin, and three nuclear reactors were destroyed. Team Dover Airmen were tasked during Operation Tomodachi with sending more than 70,000 pounds of humanitarian relief supplies and a search and rescue team to the areas affected by the disaster.
“We have had a special relationship with the people of Miyagi since 2004, when Dover AFB began hosting an annual visit of middle school students from the city of Iwanuma, Japan,” said Capt. Drew Beasley, 3rd Airlift Squadron support flight commander. "Iwanuma is a friendship city to Dover and is located in the Miyagi Prefecture. On 11 March, 2011, Miyagi was one of the most affected areas after the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Dover AFB provided extensive C-17A airlift support to Miyagi Prefecture as part of Operation Tomodachi.”
Since that event, citizens from the Japanese Delegation of Miyagi Prefecture have visited the base and the city of Dover many times over the last few years. The people of Miyagi Prefecture still express their gratitude to the men and women who came to their aid.
“The visit was a massive success. Vice Governor Kawabata and his team thanked Dover Airmen for our help with both the disaster response and for hosting Iwanuma's middle school students for the last 13 years,” said Beasley. “Without doubt, the visit strengthened these bonds of friendship between Dover Air Force Base and the Miyagi Prefecture for future generations.”