Pine Bluff Arsenal Commander Col. Collin K. Keenan was the guest speaker at the 40th Annual White Hall Community Awards Banquet March 11 at the White Hall James “Jitters” Morgan Community Center. The awards banquet is hosted each year by the White Hall Chamber of Commerce.
“Even though I’ve only been here for a couple of years, I’m proud to be part of such a welcoming and growing community. It is indeed an honor to get the opportunity to speak with you tonight,” said Keenan, who has been at PBA since April 2023. Keenan will relinquish his command of the Arsenal in July this year.
Keenan said he believed at the heart of every thriving community are people who believe in the power of service.
“They are the volunteers who give their time, energy and passion – not for recognition, but because they understand a strong community is built on commitment and care,” he said. “At its core, volunteerism is more than just an act of giving; it is an act of love, compassion and unity.”
PBA’s 41st Commander recalled his own Army enlistment when he was still in high school.
“My all to service in the military began in my favorite class which was drafting. I initially wanted to be an architect. One of my buddies asked me if I wanted to go talk to the recruiter about becoming an engineer and blow stuff up. As a 17-year-old this sounded really cool,” he said. “We went down there and that was the first step towards going to the military entrance processing center a few weeks later. I had just turned 17.”
Keenan said they told him his test score showed he would make a great mechanic. “I had no idea what that was even all about, so I became a mechanic,” he said. “I’ve been serving for a little more than 35 years now. I went from corporal to colonel.”
Consider the impact of a single volunteer, said Keenan. “One person teaching a child to read can change the course of that child’s life. One person helping to build a home can provide shelter for generations for a family,” he said. “One person showing kindness to a struggling neighbor can reignite hope in someone’s heart. When we come together, the power of volunteerism multiplies.”
Keenan said by bridging the gap between what is needed and what is possible, being a volunteer fills the void that governments and institutions cannot always address.
“It is the force that drives changes from the ground-up,” he said. “A connected community is a resilient one. When we come together in times of need, we reinforce the idea that no one stands alone. We build bridges, strengthen bonds and cultivate an environment where generosity and empathy thrive.”
However, he said the beauty of volunteerism doesn’t require a crisis.
“We can build strong communities every day by simply being present for one another, by offering our skills, time and effort in ways big and small,” said the colonel. “Community service is not about stepping up once – it’s about sustained commitment. True change requires dedication, and a willingness to show up time and time again. It is not always about the grand gestures, but also the small, consistent efforts that make a lasting impact.”
Speaking about the time he was wounded in Iraq, ultimately receiving a Purple Heart, Keenan captivated the audience with his very personal story.
“I was helping to escort a chaplain the day we were hit with the IED. The driver and I were hanging out waiting for the company commander and expressed our feeling about the day seeming off or wrong – like something was going to happen,” said Keenan. “I told her we would be alright and tried to put a positive spin on the moment.”
He said as they were riding he noticed a couple of young kids on the side of the road outside their vehicle. “I remember glancing and then boom. We had just put sandbags on the floorboards. This was before the up armored Humvees. We were in one with the vinyl doors,” said the colonel. “We had just been instructed to wear eye protection, which was good because I ended up with shrapnel near my glasses. This could have been my eyeballs if I hadn’t been wearing my PPE.”
He said the blast blew his eardrums out. “I remember the driver saying she was hit, however she was able to drive the vehicle down the middle of the road, so we didn’t run into traffic. Everyone was shaken up.”
Keenan still has the canteen, with a bullet hole in it, he was carrying that day. “It is close to an inch going through and out the other side along with the cover. That protected me,” he said “Every breath and every day we have is a gift. When you take this mentality and apply it to others, it is the relationships we have that truly matter.”
The Arsenal commander said sometimes people hesitate to volunteer because they feel their efforts are too small to make a difference.
“I want to challenge that mindset tonight. Think of a ripple in a pond. A single drop of water creates waves that extend far beyond the original point of impact,” he said. “The same is true of volunteerism. One act of kindness can inspire another, setting off a chain reaction of generosity and goodwill.”
Keenan said he urged each person in the room to take a step toward service, no matter how small it might be.
“Imagine the kind of world we could create if everyone dedicated even a fraction of their time to helping others. Imagine the sense of fulfillment, purpose and unity we could cultivate in our communities,” he said. “As the saying goes, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ So let us make a life worth living – by lifting, supporting and serving those around us.”