Photo By Sgt. Jeremy Lewis | Cpl. Kendarian Dixon, a Houston native and Air and Missile Defense Crew Member with,...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (January 16, 2022) – As Soldiers returned home from their morning physical training, they were probably confused by the minor traffic jams due to the long, winding lines of cars packing into the Liberty Chapel parking lot so early on a Thursday morning.
On January 13, 2022, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Division Chaplain's Office teamed up with Soldiers, veterans, and community organizations to provide meals for Screaming Eagle Soldiers and families at Liberty Chapel on post.
The meals were provided through Fort Care, a local, nonprofit organization run by veterans and military family members that gives food to veteran and active-duty service members and their families, with veterans coming from several different community organizations to pass out boxes of food alongside Soldiers from Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
"This all got started when my friend Harold Whitmer approached us and asked if we could construct something like this to honor families here at Fort Campbell," said Ron Fahy, one of the founders of Fort Care. "He served in the 101st 62 years ago as a chaplain and wanted to find a way to help the families stationed here any way he could."
Fort Care has been hosting food giveaways on post for about two years now.
"To me, it communicates that people do care," said Lt. Col. Gregory Jackson, Community Chaplain for the division. "That's what we want to communicate, that people care, and they are willing to help in any way they can."
The event exemplified what it means for military members to take care of their own.
"My family has ties to the military dating back to WWI and one of the things I learned as a kid was the importance of 'paying it forward' and helping members of the community," Fahy said. "Being a part of something like this, honoring the folks who are serving today, thanking them for their service, it doesn't get any better than this."
In just under three hours, volunteers distributed 800 meals for the families of Fort Campbell through this giveaway.
The most astonishing fact of the day was how many families were picking up for people who were not able to make it for one reason or another.
"I can't tell you how many families have already gone through this morning where they're picking up extra loads to take to their neighbors that are on quarantine due to COVID," said Fahy. "It's an honor, not just to help those folks. But it's an honor that people are willing to step to the plate to help their neighbors, which is the way it should be. That's what military is all about."
For the volunteers, as the saying goes, it is better to give than to receive.
"It feels great to be a part of something like this," said Cpl. Kendarian Dixon, an Air and Missile Defense Crew Member with, Charlie Battery, 2-44 ADA, 101 DIVARTY, 101ST ABN DIV (AA). "I remember a time in my life when I needed something like this, so I just want to help out wherever I'm needed."
Events like this show the community support for the families at Fort Campbell, as Soldiers, veterans, and community members came together for the sake of serving anyone who needed it.
"We're very thankful for everybody who comes out to volunteer for us to be able to do this," Jackson said. "I think people see the Soldiers out here along with the volunteers that come from the community and they're very much appreciative of what we do."
The date for the next food giveaway is still to be determined
-30-
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 01.18.2022 13:53 |
| Story ID: | 413015 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US |
| Hometown: | BOWLING GREEN, KY, US |
| Hometown: | CLARKSVILLE, TN, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CAMPBELL, TN, US |
| Hometown: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Hometown: | HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Hometown: | KNOXVILLE, TN, US |
| Hometown: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Hometown: | NEW YORK, NY, US |
| Hometown: | OAK GROVE, KY, US |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 175 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, I am my brother's keeper, by SGT Jeremy Lewis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT