WIESBADEN, Germany – The U. S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden hosted Retiree Appreciation Day Oct. 30 by offering a range of resources to help them. Rooms in Building 1000, the Mission Command Center, were transformed into areas where retirees could get flu and COVID vaccines, legal services and information on services that can help them.
The retirees were also able to get ID Cards, custom forms, passports and a slew of other items.
Brig. Gen. Jed Schaertl, deputy commanding general for mobilization and reserve affairs, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, opened up the day with remarks thanking the retirees for their service.
“Retirees make up a significant portion of our civilian workforce. We could not function as a command without our retirees,” he told the group. “We appreciate you and all that you do.”
Col. Mario Washington, the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander, echoed those words when he spoke.
“It is important that we provide resources to you and it is important for you to let us know how we can support you,” he said. “We know how important you are to the Garrison and to the community.”
The retirees were provided a breakfast before and during the event in the basement of the building. After the event, the United Services Organization provided a free lunch to the participants.
The Wiesbaden High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and the Wiesbaden High School Chorus participated in the opening ceremony. Before the retirees navigated the different areas set up, a ceremonial cake was displayed with the oldest annuitant, oldest retiree and youngest Soldier having the honor of cutting the cake for everyone to enjoy.
Retired Master Sgt. Tom Muller was with the group and talked with the JROTC honor guard. He served with the infantry in Vietnam in 1965.
“I enjoy coming to Retiree Appreciation Day. We weren’t able to do this last year, but this year it is great. I am really interested in the new ID cards,” he said.
New guidance is in effect that allows dependents over the age of 65 to have an indefinite expiration date on their ID cards instead of a date.”
The retirees were also provided updates from Mark Overberg, the director of Army Retirement Services and Julie Burandt-Partin, director with the Defense Finance Account Service, through Teams.
There was also a medical roundtable, chaired by Col. Michael F. Belenky, U.S. Army Regional Health Command-Europe and an invitation-only Retired Soldier Council Presidents Meeting with retired Lt. Col. Dave Fulton, President of the Army in Europe Retired Soldier Council.