MCE Soldiers give back to military community in Germany

GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

05.26.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob McDonald 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – Volunteers from the 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element were recognized with certificates of appreciation May 26 for their support of the Month of the Military Child track meet on Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Nine MCE Soldiers gave their time April 25 to assist with the track meet open to military youth from installations across Germany.

Michael Griffin, director, Child and Youth Services Sports at Hohenfels, Germany, coordinated the event and reached out to the MCE for support.

“It is an annual event and is our way of celebrating the Month of the Military Child,” Griffin said. “It is impossible to do without volunteers. I am grateful for the unit stepping up. We couldn’t have run the meet without their help.”

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Antwan Bowman, collection manager, 4th Infantry Division MCE, and said he was eager to help Griffin, a fraternity brother of his, when he got the call.
Bowman pushed the information to the MCE asking for support.

“We had guys working as emcee, starters, running time keepers and running track and field events,” Bowman said. “Then they stayed after and broke down equipment.”

Both Bowman and Griffin said the example the Soldiers set shows the children that part of being a Soldier is giving back to the community.

“It says a lot about the caliber of the Soldiers; they work hard through the week and gave up their personal time to support the community. It’s important for continued success to give back to the community,” Bowman said.

He said he and the other volunteers, as well as the children came away with a sense of fulfillment when the event was complete.

• Date Taken: 05.26.2015
• Date Posted: 06.01.2015 07:57
• Story ID: 165057
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE