Photo By Sgt. April de Armas | Cpt. Robert Ridley listens outside of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in...... read more read more
Subscribe
Fort Bragg, N.C. – The sounds of lawn mowers, weed eaters and blowers fill the air on post as troopers with the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade conduct their annual spring cleaning, also known as “clean sweep.”
The 1-82 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion extended their areas of responsibility May 16 to 17 to honor their fellow paratroopers, both past and present. First, they focused on sprucing up the barracks to improve quality of life for the soldiers, and then they cleaned up one Fort Bragg park and two memorial roadways in the community in honor of some of the Wolfpack Battalion’s fallen comrades.
To start, troopers gave their barracks a facelift by cleaning up the shrubs and trees that surround their living quarters building and updating their volleyball court with fresh sand.
“This is their home,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Evans, 1-82 ARB. “We thought it would be nice to freshen up the area and make the volleyball court something they can enjoy in their leisure.”
Troopers spent most of the day digging grass out of the volleyball pit and spreading fresh play sand in its place.
“I think it’s cool that they are doing this for us,” said Pvt. Joshua Barker, Company D, 1-82 ARB. “I know I will enjoy it.”
The following morning, troopers moved their attention to Fort Bragg’s Wilson Park and two memorial roadways in the community, all dedicated to members of the Wolfpack who gave their lives in defense of the nation. Prior to the clean-up effort at each site, the troopers conducted a brief remembrance ceremony to remind them of the sacrifices made by their fallen comrades.
The soldiers of Company D, 1-82 ARB, remembered Spc. Timothy A. Fulkerson during the clean up at Wilson Park on Butner Road.
Sgt. Nathan Rogers spoke to the company during the ceremony before they began cleaning up the park, which was adopted in Fulkerson’s honor.
“A couple of years ago, in 2010, they planted trees here in remembrance of Spc. Fulkerson,” Rogers said. “Our company just kind of adopted this area and maintains it; it’s nice to make part of Fort Bragg a little nicer in honor of Spc. Fulkerson.”
Earlier that morning, Soldiers with Company C, 1-82 ARB, were at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Fayetteville, N.C., celebrating the life of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brent Cole. His widow, Vanessa Cole, attended the remembrance ceremony.
“Brent was always excited about his job and about working with the troopers,” said Vanessa. “This was our church and my family and I are honored that you have chosen this place as a tribute to his life.”
Following the ceremony, the soldiers cleaned up trash alongside Andrews Road, also known as CW4 Brent Cole Memorial Highway.
Finally, soldiers with Company A, 1-82 ARB honored Chief Warrant Officer 4 John Priestner and Chef Warrant Officer 2 Miles Henderson during a remembrance ceremony at their unit area before heading out to clean up Buffalo Lake Road in Sanford, N.C.
Maintaining these roadways gives the troopers of the Wolfpack Battalion time to pause and reflect on the magnitude of the sacrifices made by Fulkerson, Cole, Priestner and Henderson.
“These additional clean sweep tasks were not mandatory. I am proud that our Wolfpack family volunteered their time to honor their fellow troopers and take care of each other,” said Evans.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2013 13:47 |
| Story ID: | 107466 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 333 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Wolfpack honors past, present troopers during clean sweep, by SGT April de Armas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT