FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The aroma of deliciously baked turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans along with an assortment of pie had soldier’s trickling out of their barracks rooms, down the stairs and through the halls and into the day room where a Thanksgiving feast awaited.
Soldiers assigned to 4th and 8th Psychological Operations Groups (Airborne) received a Thanksgiving dinner provided by the Unity Christian Center of Fayetteville, November 16.
“It’s a great opportunity to build cohesion and esprit de corps in the unit,” said Sgt. Dominic D. Toruno, a human resources noncommissioned officer with Headquarters Support Company, 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne). “It’s nice having a great meal brought to you and you don’t have to go out for it - or order out for it.”
Many soldiers do not travel home during the holiday season, so having an event that brings the military family together and shows the support of the local community is important to soldier morale.
“This is my first experience with having a Thanksgiving dinner brought to the barracks,” said Spc. Isaiah L. Kaikuaana, a human resources specialist with Headquarters Support Company, 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne). “This is a good for the new incoming soldiers that are away from home and family and helps integrate them into the unit.”
In a precedence of community outreach from Unity Christian Center with Fort Bragg, church staff members served more than 100 soldiers who reside in the barracks.
“This is our first time serving soldiers on Fort Bragg and I understand this is the first time a church has been allowed to come and feed the soldiers,” said Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Leslie F. Matthews and pastor of Unity Christian. “I think this should catch on because this is one of the best ways to get the community to understand Fort Bragg as a part of their community.”
Matthews, a Purple Heart recipient and veteran of the Vietnam War, has been a pastor at Unity Christian Church for 17 years and engaged in community outreach for more than nine years. Often the church provides meals and housing assistance for those in need.
“We want the soldiers to know that there are people in the Fayetteville community that are willing to come to Fort Bragg and build those relationships and that do care about them, especially the ones in the barracks,” said Matthews. “This is good for the commanders too. It lets them see that there are opportunities to bring the community closer together.”
This opportunity brings together military and civilians during the holiday season building a stronger community relationship with the people of Fayetteville.
| Date Taken: | 11.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2018 10:46 |
| Story ID: | 300867 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 231 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Psyop Soldiers Receive Thanksgiving Dinner in the Barracks, by SFC Shelman Spencer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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