2nd BCT helps Black River students celebrate school’s end

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mark Moore | Spc. James M. Beals, a light wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to Troop D, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, helps guide a student through an obstacle course during Black River Elementary School's annual year's end field day June 23.  

FORT DRUM, NY, UNITED STATES

06.23.2014

Story by Sgt. Mark Moore 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Twenty Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), helped students celebrate the end of the school year during Black River Elementary School’s annual field day June 23.

The Soldiers, along with parents and faculty members, assisted with the event by serving as game referees and providing static displays of a military excavator and a Humvee.

While the field day offered attendees a break from the day-to-day routine, it also was an opportunity for students to develop their social skills and a chance for Soldiers to help their community.

“Our field day is a great community event that involves everyone – from parents to Soldiers,” said Barbara Morgan, a faculty member at the school. “Community is really huge for children; they need to know they have a support system. Anything we can do community wise helps them grow up to be better citizens.”

Pfc. Joshua J. Todd, an infantryman assigned to A Troop, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, said he was appreciative of the opportunity to help serve his community.

“I used to do a lot of community service back home, and when I came here, I didn’t know if there was anything I could volunteer for,” he said. “I’d like to see more activities like this for Soldiers; it really helps keep our morale up, as well as those we help. It’s also good for us Soldiers, especially the new Soldiers. We can see all the good stuff that is around the town while helping out the community.”

Spc. James M. Beals, a light wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to D Troop, 1-89th Cavalry, said the event helped show the human side of the military. He also is an aspiring physical education teacher.

“We’re showing [the community] that the Army is not entirely focused on combat,” he said. “We have an intellectual side, a caring side to us and we are [people] outside of the uniform. Investing in the youth is the most important thing we can do; they are our future. We have to spend time with them, and help develop and mold them.”

While field day is over and the students’ summer vacation has begun, the relationships built between 2nd BCT and the local community will continue to grow.

“We are really delighted when the military came and participated in this event,” Morgan said. “So many of our children have parents who are in the military, and it’s a very important part of their lives. We feel it’s a very important part of our school community as well.”

• Date Taken: 06.23.2014
• Date Posted: 07.14.2014 14:35
• Story ID: 136035
• Location: FORT DRUM, NY, US