Elementary students bring Fort Hood Soldiers holiday cheer

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Banzhaf | A Meadows Elementary School student gives a holiday stocking to a Soldier with the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division during a formation Dec. 14 at Fort Hood, Texas. After the students passed out all of the stockings, Soldiers let them explore multiple military vehicles.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

12.15.2015

Story by Sgt. Brandon Banzhaf 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas – Students with Meadows Elementary School visited 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Dec. 14, 2015.

More than 25 students came to the unit motor pool with a wheelbarrow in tow filled with about 400 holiday stockings containing candy and handwritten notes for Soldiers to spread a little holiday cheer.

“We love to show appreciation to our Adopt-A-School unit any time that we can,” said Misti Wetzel, a Belton, Texas, native and counselor at MES. “We asked the parents in the community if they wanted to donate bags of candy so we can fill stockings up for our Soldiers.”

Before the battalion kicked off its usual Monday vehicle maintenance program, students scattered throughout the unit formations with their arms filled with holiday stockings – one for each Soldier.

“This season isn’t all about receiving, it’s also about giving,” said Wetzel. “I think it’s a very important value for these children, and they were so excited to give.”

Upon handing out all of the treats, Soldiers opened up the doors and hatches of several vehicles and kids climbed inside Paladins, Humvees, and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle to get a closer look at the military equipment their Adopt-A-School Soldiers use on a daily basis.

Some took turns honking the horn, while others used headsets to talk to each other during their stint in the driver’s seat.

“It’s always important to get the school, whether it’s the students, staff or faculty to come to the unit,” said Lt. Col. Ryan McCormack, commander, 2-82 FA. “It also gives them a good perspective of what we do on a daily basis; it just enriches the relationship that we have with them.”

• Date Taken: 12.15.2015
• Date Posted: 12.15.2015 11:27
• Story ID: 184575
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: BELTON, TX, US