Sweet onion tradition brings Soldiers, community together

Photo By Spc. Corey Foreman | Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jared DeLaney, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division band, shakes a child's hand during the Glennville Sweet Onion Festival parade in Glennville, Ga. May 14, 2016. Band members joined soldiers of 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division for the event. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Corey Foreman / Released)  

GLENNVILLE, GA, UNITED STATES

05.14.2016

Story by Spc. Corey Foreman 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. (May 14, 2016) – Soldiers of 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division marched in the Glennville Sweet Onion Festival parade in Glennville, Georgia, May 14.

Participation in events like the Sweet Onion Festival is a way for Soldiers and 3rd Inf. Div. to give back.

“We enjoy the tremendous support from the local area, Glennville in particular,” said Lt. Col. Brandon Klink, battalion commander for 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd IBCT.

“They have always been friends of Fort Stewart along with the rest of 3rd ID,” Klink added. “It's a great way for our battalion and brigade to show appreciation for everything they do for our community and for our Soldiers to get out and experience some of these great traditions like the Sweet Onion Festival.”

Soldiers assigned to Fort Stewart and 3rd Inf. Div. are also citizens and members of the community.

“We have a lot of military families that have moved into our area and it helps to integrate the locals with the military community,” said Holly Baxter, Glennville local.

“We have a lot of Soldiers and their families that live in Glennville, Pembroke, Hinesville and the rest of the surrounding region,” Klink said. “Whether we are training or deployed, the local community provides us support.”

Glennville's largest annual event, the Glennville Sweet Onion Festival, is now in its 40th year and Soldiers of 3rd Inf. Div. recognize the significance.

“It's a celebration of the sweet onion, the Vidalia sweet onion is world famous,” Klink explained. “Half the sweet onions are grown here in Tattnall County. They're proud of it and our Soldiers are part of that community too.”

Recognizing the importance of tradition is one reason 3rd Inf. Div. returns to march each year.

“This is our second time marching in this parade and we have been able to participate in other events with Glennville,” Klink explained. “It makes me exceptionally proud of our Soldiers. You are marching through the crowd and hear people shout, hey there’s 3rd ID. We have some of the finest Soldiers in the United States Army.”

• Date Taken: 05.14.2016
• Date Posted: 05.17.2016 16:31
• Story ID: 198391
• Location: GLENNVILLE, GA, US