Photo By Master Sgt. Serbennia Davis | Spc. Ryan Spurgeon was chosen to represent Indiana in the nation's capitol as a...... read more read more
By Master Sgt. Serbennia A. Davis
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — Spc. Ryan Spurgeon has always wanted to return to the nation's capitol in Washington D.C. Struck by the familiarity of the city, the Freetown, Ind., couldn't wait to get back.
"When I was 15-years-old [my parents] took me to Washington, D.C. and I've always wanted to go back," said Spurgeon, a truck driver for 478th Engineer Company (Dump Truck) at Camp Atterbury, Ind.
"Many of the memorials and monuments were made by Bedford Limestone Company, located in Bedford, Ind. [That limestone] happens to be grounded in the creek behind my house," he said. "There is no better way to say how I feel about D.C. It is grounded in my very soul and is literally all around me," he said.
Spurgeon will soon have a chance to return to the nation's capitol as a participant in the National Capitol Reenlistment Ceremony, or NCRC, held annually for select Army Reserve Soldiers who are within their first eight years of military service, have decided to continue serving and are within a 12-month window for reenlistment.
Participants are chosen from across the nation and Spurgeon was the Soldier selected for the state of Indiana.
"My retention NCO, Sgt. 1st Class Rosalind Fennell, told me that I was eligible to compete in NCRC after I signed my reenlistment contract," said Spurgeon. "I visited the online Web site, signed up for the competition and won!" he added.
Fennell was also excited about the selection.
"It is an honor for Spc. Spurgeon to be selected as the only Soldier within the state of Indiana to participate in the National Capital Reenlistment Ceremony," she said.
"In a nutshell, it is an opportunity for first-term Soldiers to be a part of a lifetime experience while showcasing the importance of retaining our Soldiers," she said.
A two-tour veteran of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Spurgeon reenlisted for an additional eight years of duty. Memorable moments during his deployment — the Iraqis' fight for democracy and his participation during the 2005 elections — prompted him to continue to answer his call of duty.
Spurgeon will participate in the 2010 National Capitol Reenlistment Ceremony during the week of April 20-24, in Washington, D.C. He will participate in a public reenlistment alongside other Soldiers during the actual ceremony, April 23, at the U.S. Capitol Building Visitors Center.
Several activities around the National Capitol Region are planned for the participants. A visit to the U.S. Capitol Building, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Pentagon are on the list of places that Spurgeon will get to attend. This once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity is at no cost to the Soldier or his accompanying family member.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2010 14:25 |
| Story ID: | 47094 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 271 |
| Downloads: | 185 |
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