Photo By Sgt. Dana Moen | Sgt. Robertson (left) and Sgt. Tarazona, both with 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment,...... read more read more
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Kansas State University hosted their annual Fort Riley Day during a football game against the Oklahoma State University Cowboys Nov. 5 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The game was a way for the Big 12 university to show its appreciation to the 1st Infantry Division, its “Big Red One” Soldiers and their family members.
“This experience is just incredible,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Larry Westgaites, the game’s hometown hero and Apache helicopter pilot assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div. “Anything that they (Kansas State) do for the Soldiers is much appreciated.”
The partnership between Fort Riley and the Wildcats began in 2008 when former university president Jon Wefald and former Big Red One commander Maj. Gen. Robert E. Durbin established a formal institutional agreement that was designed to serve as a model military-to-university community partnership.
“The K-State and 1st Infantry Division partnership is like no other partnership in the U.S. between a major college institution and a division,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley acting senior commander.
The partnership between Fort Riley and K-State reaches beyond football. Each Wildcat athletic team is partnered with a unit from the division.
The partnership “has grown,” said retired Lt. Col. Art DeGroat, executive director of military and veterans affairs at Kansas State University. “It’s looked at as a national example of how a public institution of higher education can partner with a warfighting installation. It culturally builds a bridge between these two institutions that commonly do not get together and it’s been very rewarding.”
Various events took place before and during the showdown between the Wildcats and Cowboys. A tailgate party was held for Soldiers, veterans and their families. Other highlights during the game included a colors presentation of the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, ceremony of allegiance, pre-game and half-time performances by the 1st Inf. Div. and K-State marching bands, video shout-outs from deployed Soldiers and recognition of the Fan of the Game and Hometown Hero.
“It’s a special moment when K-State and Fort Riley come together,” said Spc. Brendon Anstine, the Fan of the Game and cavalry scout assigned to 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. “It helps everyone get comfortable with one another.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2016 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 214163 |
| Location: | MANHATTAN, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 165 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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