Page 10 - Ft. Huachuca Scout 6-19-15

10A The Scout FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

Army celebrates 240th birthday on Fort Huachuca

Story and photos by Natalie Lakosil to celebrate something that means so much to all of us.” appreciation to those on active duty.”
Staff Writer Another Soldier, Pvt. Davion Smith, Charlie Compa- “I’m here because of my son who was a radioman

The U.S. Army celebrated its 240th birthday on Sun- ny, 111th MI Bde., was enjoying the meal and said, “it’s who was deployed to Vietnam and served on the front
day but Fort Huachuca celebrated a few days early with good for morale, really makes me feel like somebody lines. When it was time for us to retire, he told us to
the Army birthday meal on June 11 and the Army birth- appreciates that I’m a Soldier. I feel like if we had meals come to Sierra Vista and here I am. I love it here and
day run on June 12. like this more often morale would go up by a large mar- love the mountains,” said Calla Kindred, who will be 90
gin and the days would seem a lot shorter making train- this fall. “This is our life, and it’s good,” she added of the
More than 1,200 meals were prepared last week for ing a lot easier.” military lunch.
the Army birthday meal for Soldiers and the public at
Weinstein Dining Facility. To recognize such a special Community members also turned out to the lunch Pvt. Wyatt Hawes, Charlie Company, 305th MI Bn.,
day the meal included: crab legs, T-bone steaks, maca- to enjoy the special meal and company of Soldiers. A was lucky enough to speak with some of the veterans,
roni and cheese, shrimp, corn on the cob, soups, deserts, group of 18 people from Our Lady of the Mountains “it helps us appreciate what our great Army has done
salads and more. A special meal was also prepared at Church sat amongst the Soldiers. and it’s good for you,” he said on spending time with
the Thunderbird Dining Facility. them. “They teach you a lot about history and the past
Retired Lt. Col. Ernie Reynolds, said, “The Army and help you carry on to the future.”
One Soldier, Pvt. Nicholas Griffith, Alpha Company, does a lot for the nation, obviously, and this is a way for
305th Military Intelligence Battalion, said, “It improves us to kind of pay back for what the Army has done. We The Army meal wasn’t the only way Fort Huachuca
morale. Since we’re here so long for training, it is nice like to come up here and show our appreciation, first of celebrated the 240th birthday. On June 12, hundreds
all, have a good meal with our friends but also show our of Soldiers gathered on Warrior/Sentinel Field for the
Army Birthday Run.
Soldiers from nine organizations participated in the Army Birthday Run, led by Maj. Gen. Robert Ashley, commanding general,
United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca, and Maj. Gen. John Morrison Jr., Network Enterprise The large group consisting of Soldiers from the U.S.
Technology Command, commanding general. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, Network En-
terprise Technology Command, U.S. Army Garrison,
Medical Activity/Dental Activity, 111th Military Intel-
ligence Brigade, Non-commissioned Officers Academy,
40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 2/13th Aviation
Regiment and the 18th Military Police Detachment ran
over two miles, ending back at Warrior/Sentinel Field
with a cake cutting ceremony.

“Yesterday morning, standing at Ground Zero, I took
comfort in the fact that if anyone asked me what did you
do after 9/11 I could humbly say I was a Soldier and
when my country called, I did more than my share of
the task,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Ashley, commanding
general, United States Army Intelligence Center of Ex-
cellence and Fort Huachuca. “It is true the future is un-
known but what remains certain is there are evil people
in the world, and as Irish philosopher Edmund Burke
once said, all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is
that good men do nothing.

“Today you stand with your teammates as part of the
greatest Army on this planet, against the evil that exists
in this world, part of an elite group of patriots that ranks
in the numbers of one-third of one percent of a popu-
lation of 320 million Americans,” Ashley told those
gathered. “Never forget those 320 million Americans
who are depending on you each and every day, you are

See BIRTHDAY3DJH$

Soldiers line up for the Army Birthday meal on June 11. Food Service Specialist, Robin Hegedus, Bernard Mercier, retired Air Force, swaps stories with Pvt. Wyatt Hawes, Charlie Company, 305th
helps to serve the more than 1,200 meals prepared that day. Military Intelligence Battalion, during the 240th Army Birthday meal at Weinstein Dining Facility
June 11.