Photo By Staff Sgt. Les Newport | The 38th Sustainment’s Brigade patch on the National Guard sponsored number 4,...... read more read more
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Soldiers of the Indiana National Guard’s 38th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered in Kokomo, Ind., have received the unique opportunity to be represented during the Indianapolis 500, known as “the greatest spectacle in racing.”
A decal of their unit patch was placed onto the National Guard sponsored car in the Panther Racing team garage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 23. Indiana’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, and the number 4 IndyCar owner, John Barnes, joined together to attach the patch to the vehicle. The car will be driven by JR Hildebrand.
The brigade’s senior-enlisted soldier, Command Sgt. Major Karolyn Peeler, who lives near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said she is thrilled to have her unit represented during the 500-mile race in her hometown.
“As a resident in the Speedway area, the race has become a tradition for me,” said Peeler. “It's very momentous to receive this unique acknowledgement during an event like the Indy 500. To be 'patched' is a symbolic experience which brings about pride and dignity. As the senior-enlisted leader for the 38th Sustainment Brigade, I'm more than honored that our patch will be displayed on the IndyCar for the world to see.”
Annually, since the National Guard has sponsored the Panther Racing team, the team has placed a decal of a deployed unit onto their vehicle as a tribute to those serving overseas during the Indianapolis 500 race.
For some Hoosiers, like Staff Sgt. Camille Clay, from Gary, Ind., the weekend is also more than just a race. For her, Memorial Day weekend is a solemn time, in remembrance of loved ones and embracing her own military traditions.
“I've always honored my grandfather, who served in Vietnam and my father who served in Desert Storm,” said Clay. “Now, as I have gotten older and more mature in my military career, I have had friends that gave their lives to grant our freedom. And that means so much more to me as a veteran.”
“I take pride in serving with the 38th Sustainment Brigade and representing the state of Indiana,” said Clay. “The decal will portray to the world that even though we are busy with our mission in Kuwait, the unit is still supported back home.”
A soldier with the brigade’s Special Troops Battalion, Spc. Benjamin Wood, from South Bend, Ind., said this symbolism is important to him as a Soldier and veteran during the Memorial Day holiday.
“There's a great deal of pride that goes along being represented on the car in the world's most watched race,” said Wood. “As a soldier, Memorial Day means to honor my brothers and sisters in arms that have died fighting for freedom. As a veteran, it means to honor those soldiers who have died fighting for the same cause that I fight for. The month of May makes me proud to say I'm a soldier in the greatest state, with so much history.”
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2013 13:09 |
| Story ID: | 107464 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | GARY, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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