FORT KNOX, Ky. - Prominent members of several local companies and organizations honored the Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and made several donations to the Duke Association Wednesday, Dec. 8 at a luncheon held in the brigade’s dining facility on Fort Knox, Ky.
Command Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Gene Gudenkauf, president of the local chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, Col. (ret.) Renee Finnegan, the Fort Knox Business Development Director for Strategic Resources, Inc., Maj. Gen. (ret.) Bill Barron, executive director of the CORE Committee, all made donations to the brigade and thanked the Soldiers present for their service. Several other members of those organizations were also in attendance.
“We’re here to let the Soldiers know that we support them,” said Gudenkauf. “We want to reach our hands out to the soldiers, the Family Readiness Groups and the Rear Detachment now and during their deployment.”
After taking a group photo in front of the dining facility, they Soldiers and civilians moved indoors to get their meal and socialize a bit with each other.
After eating, several donations were made to the Duke Association, the organization in charge of planning and building the Duke Brigade Memorial. The memorial will honor all soldiers of the 3/1 IBCT who have fallen in combat since 9/11.
Finnegan donated a check for $500 to the organization and also bought memberships to the organization for four soldiers, all on behalf of her company. Barron donated a check for $100 to the Duke Association and an art print depicting the 1st ID’s movement from Fort Riley, Kan., to Würzburg, Germany, to be displayed at the 3/1 headquarters building.
The Soldiers present at the luncheon were also honored by Gudenkauf with AUSA coins.
“I want every soldier here to know that you are in my prayers,” said Finnegan as she presented her company’s donation. “Even if I don’t know your name, I pray for all deployed soldiers every day.”