When in doubt, Dish it out Fun Run

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michelle Conrad | Service and family members along with retirees came to show their support of the 2013 Army Emergency Relief Fun Run, a five-kilometer race, May 8. at Fort Devens, Mass. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Michelle Conrad, 362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

DEVENS , MA, UNITED STATES

05.08.2013

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Michelle Conrad 

362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

DEVENS, Mass. - Imagine not being able to afford an emergency flight to see your wife, who is having complications delivering your child or trying to come up with $3,000 quickly, so your infant can wear a cranial helmet for a life-threatening surgery.

Thanks to Army Emergency Relief, Soldiers in emergencies like these are able to receive the financial assistance needed, said Imelda Fisher, AER officer and director of Army Community Service of Fort Devens, Mass.

Fisher delivered the keynote address to more than 30 service and family members along with retirees who came to participate in the five-kilometer 2013 AER Fun Run May 8. at Fort Devens, Mass.

“Emergencies are not something you anticipate or plan for, and we want the community to know that we are here to help in your time of need,” said Fisher. “We provide retired military personnel or anyone on active-duty status for 30 days or more with financial aid.”

“Our motto here at the Fort Devens AER program is when in doubt, dish it out, so don’t struggle if you don’t need to and come see us when you have an emergency,” said Fisher.

Military service members and their spouses who are more than 50 miles away from an Army installation can receive assistance relief funds from any other branch of military service or from the Armed Forces Network who are available 24 hours a day.

A primary goal of the Fort Devens AER program and the Fort Devens’ garrison commander Lt. Col. Steven Egan is to ensure service members and their Families are aware of the resources available to them.

“AER is one of the most important programs in the Army,” Egan said after running the race. “AER supports more than just the service member, it supports families.”

Egan along with Command Sgt. Maj. Angel Ortiz, garrison command sergeant major, presented the winners with a certificate of appreciation and a coin of excellence.

With a time of 20:00, Spc. Sandrea Band, 698th Military Intelligence Battalion out of Fort Devens, takes the title as the fastest male runner and Sgt. 1st Class Rosalind Fennell, Army Reserve Careers Division, out of Saratoga, Mass., takes the title of fastest female runner with a time of 29:00.

“Fort Devens is such a small base and having events like this is a great opportunity to build esprit-de-corps and to give back to our community,” Egan said.

In June, Egan will host another fun run on Fort Devens to celebrate the Army’s 237th Birthday.

• Date Taken: 05.08.2013
• Date Posted: 05.14.2013 16:36
• Story ID: 106897
• Location: DEVENS , MA, US
• Hometown: FORT DEVENS, MA, US