Gatesville partnership spurs military support to annual festival

Courtesy Photo | Master Sgt. Steven Gardin, 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment, 479th Field Artillery Brigade, Division West, discusses the capabilities of the MRAP all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV) with Gatesville citizens during the Gatesville, Texas, Spurfest Sept. 21. (Photo by Maj. Holli Goddard, 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment, 479th Field Artillery, Division West Public Affairs)  

GATESVILLE, TX, UNITED STATES

09.21.2013

Courtesy Story

First Army Division West

By Maj. Holli Goddard
2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment, 479th Field Artillery Brigade, Division West, Public Affairs

GATESVILLE, Texas - Spurfest marked 40 years of the annual community event, which celebrates Gatesville’s designation as the Spur Capital of Texas.

First Army Division West, whose partner community is Gatesville, provided a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and an Up-Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment, spent the day answering questions of community members who checked both vehicles inside and out — vehicles they frequently observe at nearby North Fort Hood, Texas.
There are lots of spurs at the Coryell County Museum, home to the Lloyd Mitchell spur collection, considered the world’s largest, with 6,000 of the spurs on display.

Stretching out across the downtown area with food, market vendors, and other community organizations, there was a Zombie Run; kickball tournament; frisbee/disc golf competition, street dancing and live music; and a car show.

“Our team had a lot of fun interacting with the kids who had an exuberant amount of energy climbing in and out of the vehicles,” said Master Sgt. Steven Gardin, 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment. “The Chamber of Commerce did a wonderful job in setting up and providing anything our guys needed. Overall, it was an outstanding event.”

• Date Taken: 09.21.2013
• Date Posted: 09.30.2013 15:58
• Story ID: 114495
• Location: GATESVILLE, TX, US