Families, returning Soldiers beef up with free steaks

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Seth Barham | Pfc. Prestan Peck, a combat engineer assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, enjoys family time with his son, Ashtan, during a battalion steak feed at the Special Events Center Oct. 17. Peck, who hails from Provo, Utah, brought his family to the battalion event coordinated by the unit's Family Readiness Group and hosted by the a non-profit organization from Arlington, Kan. (U.S. Army photo/Spc. Seth Barham)  

FORT CARSON, UNITED STATES

10.17.2009

Courtesy Story

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Recently returned Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and their families were treated to a free steak feed Oct. 17 at the Special Events Center.

The planning stage for the steak feed began just after the unit deployed to Iraq in August 2008, said Kate McNeely, family readiness support assistant for the unit, who started the ball rolling for the event.

Lt. Col. Douglas Cardinale, commander, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., expressed his thanks to all of the volunteers that made the event possible.

"I could tell from all the Soldiers and families here that the food was great and everyone really appreciated it," Cardinale said.

Parents were able to bring their children to the event, something they would not have been able to do if the battalion had chosen to hold a redeployment ball.

The Soldiers preferred to have this family-oriented steak feed instead of the traditional ball that most units have upon returning home, said Spc. Michael Johnson, a tank crewmember with Company C, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Regt.

Johnson, a native of Narragansett, R.I., considered it a privilege to be served by the volunteers and was encouraged by the event.

"It's an honor to be treated this way, especially bringing our families in and giving them the royal treatment as well," said Spc. Jared Keesler, a multi-channel transmission system operator maintainer from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn. 8th Inf. Regt.

"It's good to know the Soldiers and families are being taken care of following such a difficult year of deployment," said Keesler, a native of Port Orchard, Wash.

A country music cover band played while those in attendance dined on steak, vegetables and an assortment of desserts. There were also hot dogs available for the kids.

Soldiers and their families were served by volunteers from the community and a group of students from Idalia High School.

"A lot of times people take the Soldiers for granted, and it's nice to be able to help out any way that we can," explained Logan Ramseier, a senior from Idalia, whose brother-in-law also served at Fort Carson.

Ramseier said his student council group heard about the event through its faculty advisor and decided to gather a group of students to volunteer. A total of 12 students made the trip to help out.

The food was donated by corn growers from Colorado and cattlemen from Colorado and Kansas, who also supported the event with monetary donations supplementing contributions from the local community.

"I serve them one day a year, and they serve me 365 days a year," said Bill Broadie, a volunteer from Kansas, who has participated in serving meals to more than 18,000 service members and their families across the country since April 2008.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2009
• Date Posted: 11.04.2009 18:43
• Story ID: 41107
• Location: FORT CARSON, US