NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Chemical Decontamination Detachment Soldiers with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) set up a static display of a joint light tactical vehicle (JLTV) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. for children to experience during Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee’s celebration of World Wish Day, May 1, 2021.
Every year, Make-A-Wish chapters and affiliates come together in celebrating World Wish Day on April 29, the anniversary of the first wish that inspired the founding of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
For 2021’s World Wish Day, 5th Group Soldiers partnered with the Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee Chapter and community to bring some joy to children with a static parade.
“We are happy to be here with Make-A-Wish families and their children this afternoon,” said the Chemical Decontamination Detachment’s commander. “We wanted to give these kids an opportunity to hang out with us and climb behind the wheel of one of our big trucks.”
Volunteers and friends of the Make-A-Wish community celebrated the day by hosting different activities and wishes for children out of the back of their vehicles.
“Today means a lot to our Wish families,” said Beth Torres, the President and CEO for Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee.
“World Wish Day is about bringing the community together to give our Wish kids the chance to just be kids and know that no matter what they are fighting, they have a community of support with them,” said Torres.
Laughs from the children could be heard throughout the parking lot as they took photos with puppies, played carnival inspired games, danced with mascots and climbed into a U.S. Army JLTV.
The Soldiers got to know their new friends and gave them tours of their vehicle. Several children shouted out of excitement while they were standing out of the JLTV hatch and posed for photos.
“We love when we get to work with our 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers and we are so thankful they came out for the kids today,” Torres said.
As the static parade came to an end, the Soldiers’ mission of helping wishes come true was completed.
“We were able to give these kids a taste of what it’s like to be in the Army and they had fun with us – we had more fun with them,” said the CDD officer. “Today was an awesome day to be a Soldier."
“Make-A-Wish is built on hope and I think we were able to give them some today,” he added.
Date Taken: | 04.30.2021 |
Date Posted: | 05.05.2021 13:56 |
Story ID: | 395695 |
Location: | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
Hometown: | CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
Hometown: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
Hometown: | FORT CAMPBELL, TENNESSEE, US |
Hometown: | HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY, US |
Hometown: | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
Hometown: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
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