By Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs
It’s the little things that count. Sometimes, the little things aren’t so little; all it takes to make a difference is to just do something.
Employees of Wal-Mart volunteered their time on June 22 to cook lunch for Soldiers and civilians working at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. Also in attendance were over 300 children of military families from the Kids Annual Training summer camp. In addition to Wal-Mart, other sponsors provided entertainment or other overt signs of support; Panther Racing brought an Indycar racing simulator, Indiana Pacers cheerleaders, Pacemates, were on hand signing autographs, and Indianapolis radio station 97.1 Hank FM arranged for live entertainment.
The event known as Feed ‘Em for Freedom, is going on its third year and has become larger in scope with each consecutive year, said Greg Carter, of Comminsky, Ind., with Wal-Mart’s transportation division and one of the chief architects of the event.
“This just keeps getting bigger every year,” said Carter. “This gives us a real opportunity to thank Soldiers personally and there is no better place to do that than Camp Atterbury.”
Carter said the event started because he and his fellow employees wanted to do something to show their appreciation to those that put their lives on the line. The volunteers served hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbecued pork, donated by Wal-Mart, to over 2,000 Soldiers and civilians on Camp Atterbury.
Live music was provided by national recording act; The Farm, brought to Camp Atterbury by Indianapolis-area country radio station 97.1 Hank FM.
According to Bob Richards, of Indianapolis, program director at Hank FM, the radio station wanted to get involved with showing appreciation for the troops.
“Three months ago, we had a meeting with (Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Indiana National Guard Adjutant General) about things we could do to help the Indiana National Guard,” said Richards, “this event immediately came up. We jumped at the opportunity to do something, and that something was to provide the entertainment by helping to bring in the band The Farm. We wanted to get involved with the people; that’s what brings us here.”
“It’s great to see how much fun all the kids are having,” said Dave O’Brian, of Indianapolis, morning show host at Hank FM, “I know they have to put with a lot being children of Guard members whom are deployed, so it’s good seeing them have some relaxation and relief.”
The community support of the military is what pulls the whole event together, according to Lt. Col. David Ellis, of Martinsville, Ind., director of human resources at Camp Atterbury.
“We couldn’t do this without the corporate partnership; they provided the food, staff and all the workers to get this done,” said Ellis. “Last year, they fed about 2,200 people, which I’ve decided, since I’m the director of human resources, I should probably be doing my accountability rosters at Feed ‘Em for Freedom, because I know everybody comes out of the woodwork for a nice quality meal and an opportunity to take an hour break from the daily work pace. So it’s a tremendous opportunity for us. We enjoy the opportunity to see one another, sit down and break bread and share some good stories, jokes and cut-up a little bit.”
Ellis said that without the support of the community, the mission of protecting the country would be made more difficult.
“When the community demonstrates their support, it allows the members of the military to realize that we’re not just in this by ourselves,” said Ellis. “For many of the Soldiers here at Camp Atterbury, who have been deployed, it’s that local community support that allowed their families to continue their day-to-day life; it allows the Soldiers not to worry about the home front. That’s the most important part of the civilian-military role; it is a partnership that allowed the nation’s defense for the last 10 years.”
120622-A-PX072-006: Volunteers from Wal-Mart serve lunch to Soldiers and family members, who were attending Kids Annual Training Summer Camp, during the Feed ‘Em for Freedom event held at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., June 22. The Feed ‘Em for Freedom event was held to show appreciation for the troops, civilian employees and family members for their respective service. (photo by Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs)
120622-A-PX072-011: Spc. Kyla Randall, of Lafayette, Ind., with 638th Aviation Support Battalion, receives a serving of potato chips from Rhonda Weltrick, of North Vernon, Ind., an employee of Wal-Mart, during the Feed ‘Em for Freedom event held at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., June 22. The Feed ‘Em for Freedom event was held to show appreciation for the troops, civilian employees and family members for their respective service. (photo by Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs)
120622-A-PX072-018: Volunteers from Wal-Mart serve lunch to Soldiers and family members, who were attending Kids Annual Training Summer Camp, during the Feed ‘Em for Freedom event held at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., June 22. The Feed ‘Em for Freedom event was held to show appreciation for the troops, civilian employees and family members for their respective service. (photo by Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs)