HARRODSBURG, Ky. — What began as leftover flowers and pastries from a change of command ceremony became an opportunity for two Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers to give back to the Harrodsburg community Aug. 9.
U.S. Army specialists Jalynn Hawkins and Haven McKenney, assigned to the Harrodsburg-based 103rd Brigade Support Battalion, 38th Infantry Division Artillery, delivered the items to James B. Haggin Memorial Hospital and The Willows at Harrodsburg following their unit’s change of command ceremony.
Rather than allow the flowers and pastries left over from the ceremony to go to waste, unit leaders coordinated their delivery to health care workers and nursing home residents in the community the battalion calls home.
“We recognized an opportunity to give back to Harrodsburg,” said Capt. Donovan Alexander, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 103rd BSB. “We are committed to serving our local community, not only in state active-duty capacities, but often in smaller-scale and equally meaningful ways.”
At the hospital, the Soldiers delivered pastries to emergency department staff as a gesture of appreciation for the care they provide to Harrodsburg and the surrounding community. The Soldiers also delivered flowers from the ceremony to residents and staff at the senior living community.
The 103rd BSB values its relationship with the Harrodsburg community and remains committed to recognizing the people and organizations that support its Soldiers, families and neighbors.
Small gestures such as these provide Soldiers an opportunity to strengthen those relationships while demonstrating the Kentucky National Guard’s continued connection to the communities its members serve.
Editor’s note: The writer, U.S. Army Spc. Haven McKenney, participated in the community outreach activity described in this story.