Photo By Sgt. Joseph Koktan | Lt. Col. Wyatt Lowery, 980th Engineer Battalion commander of Melissa, Texas, washes...... read more read more
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – On a hot, sunny day at Kandahar Airfield, members of the 980th Engineer Battalion of Austin, Texas, gathered together for outdoor games, music, grilled food, and charitable pie throwing.
About a month before the day of festivities, troops began placing monetary bids on the coveted opportunity to throw three pies at an officer or soldier of their choosing. Upping the ante, Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Wyatt Lowery of Melissa, Texas, allowed each winning bidder to take a full day off of work—the highest overall bidder earned a two-day trip to any military base in Afghanistan.
Lowery said he got the idea when he attended a similar event put on by the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment. He wanted his soldiers to have the opportunity to “give back to those who have sacrificed.”
“I didn’t just want us to say we support the troops,” Lowery said. “But I wanted us to actually do something.”
With a total of 11 Purple Hearts awarded in the battalion, the fundraiser meant much more to the soldiers than just an opportunity to throw pies at a fellow comrade. It was an opportunity to contribute to three different charities: the Fisher House Foundation, the Travis Mills Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Lowery said he wanted to donate part of the money to the Fisher House Foundation because he could direct the money to Fort Sam Houston where some of the 980th Purple Heart awardees are currently recovering.
It was also important to Lowery that they donate to the Travis Mills Foundation. Staff Sgt. Travis Mills is a Texas native who lost portions of all four limbs when he was struck by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Lowery said he wanted the fellow Texan to know the battalion appreciates his sacrifice.
And so as the picnic came to an end, all of the attendees gathered around the designated “Pie Chair” to watch their fellow soldier get smeared the chocolate and vanilla pudding desserts.
The crowd roared with laughter as over 30 soldiers walked away wiping pudding off their faces and out of their hair from the nearly 100 pies thrown.
In all, the fundraiser brought in a total of $4,300 for wounded warriors. There was a tie for the highest bid of $750. Sgt. Javier Silva paid the lofty tag to pie Lowery, while members of the battalion S-6 shop pulled their funds to pie Capt. Luc Roy.
“It was a fun way to raise money for those who’ve sacrificed,” Lowery reflected. “Everybody enjoyed themselves that day.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.26.2012 10:07 |
| Story ID: | 89046 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 253 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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