Hundreds of Djiboutian, coalition and U.S. service members, as well as local residents, came together outside the Camp Lemonnier fence line to clean up the area, November 5.

Participants collected and removed trash from the Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport perimeter road as part of a road beautification effort, called the Djibouti Pride Initiative.

Beautifying the area around Camp Lemonnier is just a part of being good neighbors, said U.S. Navy Captain Scott Hurst, Camp Lemonnier commanding officer.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant James Davis, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa command senior enlisted leader, echoed Hurst's sentiment, saying "when we talk about building partner nations, this is where it starts … coming outside the gate and showing that we are part of the Djiboutian community."

Although this is the first road beautification effort in recent history, it will not be the last.

"This is just the beginning of the Djibouti Pride Initiative," Hurst said. "It is going to be a continued effort."