189th Infantry Brigade partners with Auburn

Photo By Master Sgt. Victor Gardner | After the 48th annual Veterans Day Parade in Auburn, Wash., 189th Infantry Brigade, Division West Commander Col. Randall Wickman (center), and the 189th Infantry Brigade, Division West command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Reitmeier, present a Community Accord agreement between the city of Auburn and the 189th Infantry Brigade to Auburn’s mayor, Pete Lewis (left), finalizing the partnership agreement between the 189th and the city of Auburn on Nov. 9, 2013. The city of Auburn has hosted the largest sanctioned Veterans Day parade west of the Mississippi River for the last 48 years. (Photo by Capt. David Fierner, 189th Infantry Brigade)  

AUBURN, WA, UNITED STATES

11.09.2013

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Victor Gardner 

189th Combined Arms Training Brigade

AUBURN, Wash. -- Soldiers in the 189th Infantry Brigade did more than just march in Auburn’s Veterans Day Parade last month. They actually signed up to be partners with the community.

During Auburn’s 48th annual Veterans Day Parade, Col. Randall Wickman, 189th Infantry Brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Reitmeier, the 189th’s command sergeant major, presented Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis with a Community Accord agreement, finalizing the unit’s partnership with the city.

“I think getting our soldiers out into the community, the schools, groups, clubs and, especially, our veterans’ organizations, is a positive exchange,” Wickman said. “We learn, too, this is Americana and we need to remember we are America's Army, drawn from within the fabric of Auburn and cities like it.”

Auburn has been looking for a partner unit for six years, and the 189th Infantry Brigade was lucky enough to be able to partner with them, said Reitmeier. “Auburn also has a great understanding of what veterans can bring to their community and the work force, so they are always improving their methods to find and hire veterans.”

The 189th Infantry Brigade trains Army National Guard, Army Reserve and active-duty soldiers for deployments. “We are committed to training soldiers from every component within the Army to meet our nation’s call,” Reitmeier said.

Although in past years only one or two military vehicles have appeared in Auburn’s Veterans Day Parade, this year the 189th Infantry Brigade committed to increasing the visibility of the armed forces and their equipment. Other organizations from Joint Base Lewis-McChord chipped in, as well, providing a combined 135 soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen, plus three Stryker variants, a light medium tactical vehicle with a lightweight 155mm howitzer cannon, Humvees and an armored security vehicle.

By providing more military equipment and personnel than ever before for the parade, the 189th command wanted to demonstrate the overwhelming commitment it has to the city of Auburn, while displaying the capabilities and firepower that Joint Base Lewis-McChord offers in defense of our nation. “The 189th command wanted to demonstrate the overwhelming commitment it has to the city of Auburn,” said Wickman.

Military personnel, despite frequent deployments that have taken many of them away from home for the past several years, are valuable members of their communities, Wickman said. “Our service men and -women now must also reflect on the positive impact we have had over the past decade of conflict and feel good about our accomplishments, take a sense of pride in what we do, and ensure we pass this positivity on to our communities, our Families and comrades.

“We hope when our soldiers and their families decide to move on to whatever comes next,” Wickman added, “they consider the towns and cities like Auburn as their future home, and continue their lifetime of service in other ways, through the communities, schools, and service and veterans organizations."

• Date Taken: 11.09.2013
• Date Posted: 12.12.2013 14:49
• Story ID: 118139
• Location: AUBURN, WA, US
• Hometown: AUBURN, WA, US
• Hometown: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US