HARRISBURG, Pa – Veterans, civilians, and serving members of the U.S. Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard participated in the annual Armed Forces Day festivities on City Island, May 19.
Each year at the state’s capitol, hundreds gather to celebrate both the members of the military who currently serve, as well as those who have served throughout the course of the U.S. military’s history. This year’s events included a 5K run with to begin the day, guest speakers, a variety of military equipment on display, and an obstacle course for youngsters.
“This is the first time I have been to the City Island events for Armed Forces Day,” said Holly Hurley, wife to a soldier currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and native of Selinsgrove, Pa. “It’s fantastic to just see all of these families and friends here to support our military and the people who sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms.”
Thinking of her husband and the challenges he faces on a daily basis gave her the motivation to keep going, Hurley said after the 5K run.
After the run, the events of the day kicked into full swing beginning with the national anthem, a 21-gun artillery salute, and speeches by military officials and political leaders including Brig. Gen. Daniel R. Ammerman, and Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson.
“This day is not only for the military,” said Ammerman, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and current deputy commanding general of the 99th Regional Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve. “It is for the patriots that captured Bunker Hill, the Marines who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima, the soldiers that walked the jungles of Vietnam, the pilots who flew the bombing sorties of Desert Storm, and those who supported all of them throughout history.”
The city island events offered something for everyone—after the 5K run and the guest speakers had finished, live music could be heard playing throughout the area as children ran the obstacle course designed to test their physical endurance. Others went through the many military vehicles on display, getting a chance to sit in the pilot’s chair of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and stand in the gunners turret of armored Humvee trucks. Refreshment stands and World War II veterans donning their old service uniforms became commonplace on City Island, at least for one day.
The strength of the nation is our military, the strength of our military is the soldier, and the strength of the soldier is support systems of family, friends, and the community, said Ammerman.
“Without all of these links intact, the chain will break,” he said.
| Date Taken: |
05.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
05.20.2012 17:59 |
| Story ID: |
88704 |
| Location: |
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Hometown: |
SELINSGROVE, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: |
168 |
| Downloads: |
1 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Military, public gather for Armed Forces Day, by SSG David Strayer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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