LOS ANGELES - The 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command participated in the first Thanksgiving Military Appreciation Luncheon at the Getty House, the Los Angeles mayor's official residence, which was hosted by Mayor Eric Michael Garcetti and his wife who served as the master/mistress of ceremonies, Nov 24.
During the luncheon, the Family Readiness Program, 311th ESC and the 163rd Ordnance Company in conjunction with the Mayor's office worked together to arrange a surprise Skype session hosted by Mayor Garcetti.
They in turn coordinated with 1st Lt. (P) Brett Gibbons, commander of 163rd Ordnance Company 2nd Platoon Leader Heavy Lift, that is currently deployed to Kuwait with an ammunition operations mission.
The platoon's main function is to receive, ship, configure, inspect, manage issues and retrograde containerized ammunition. They also have the capability to operate independently or as part of a larger unit.
"I want to thank Mayor Garcetti and his staff for the appreciation and recognition they've extended to our deployed soldiers stationed overseas and their family members," said Capt. (P) Joycelyn S. Magday, 163rd Ordnance Company commander. "This is especially important for us as we near the holiday season."
Mayor Garcettii is himself a military service member, serving as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve. He has recently transferred to the inactive reserve.
Service members of the 163rd Ordnance Company, which consists of 200 soldiers with five platoons, have been deployed to many overseas assignments.
During the luncheon, Capt. Magday served as the military liaison and introduced the attending families, connecting deployed soldiers with their loved ones stationed in a war zone via the Internet.
This was the first Los Angeles Military Thanksgiving Appreciation Luncheon ceremony, hopefully one of many to follow. At no cost to the government, this event created some good dividends externally and internally.
"The highlight of the program was when Mayor Garcetti introduced Captain Promotable Magday to initiate the Skype Session," said Lt. Col. John Reynolds, 311th ESC public affairs officer.