Photo By Scott Sturkol | Fort McCoy military members and their families participate in Military Appreciation...... read more read more
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More than 100 members of the Fort McCoy military community made their way to the South Post Community Center in the South Post Housing Area to enjoy Military Appreciation Night on Sept. 15 at Fort McCoy.
The event was hosted by the Sparta Chamber of Commerce, Tomah Chamber of Commerce, and businesses for military troops whose duty station is Fort McCoy and is held the third Thursday of September.
Troops and their family members were served a meal of barbecue and chicken salad sandwiches, beverages, chips, cookies, and related sides. Door prizes also were handed out to several participants.
The event also saw community members spending time enjoying games and camaraderie. At one point, Garrison Commander Col. Stephen Messenger was engaged in a tough game of Jenga, and other games were also in play.
Messenger thanked the Sparta and Tomah chambers of commerce and others for holding the event.
“I met a lot of people here a year ago, and it’s where I found a lot of great relationships when I was new,” Messenger said. “So, if you’re new, make sure you’re meeting new people and saying hi. But moreover, this is the event where I found out how great a community, we live in.
“Between the businesses and corporations that come together and the chambers of commerce in Sparta and Tomah and the military families and community here (at McCoy), this has been (my) best place to live of our 15 locations in 23 years,” Messenger said. “It’s because of the people.”
The Military Appreciation Night event has been ongoing for many years and has only been in recent years been taking place at the South Post location.
According to Army Public Affairs, it’s important for the service to maintain outreach and community relations with local communities, as shown at https://www.army.mil/outreach.
“The Army is about more than ensuring our national security at home and abroad, it’s about giving back and getting to know the communities that support us,” the website states. “The Army Outreach Division coordinates engagements nationwide to allow the American public to see and interact with its Army. We want to build and develop relationships with a diverse range of civic, ethnic, and business organizations. We want to connect you with Army assets in your community.”
Community relations events like these at Fort McCoy are regularly coordinated with the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office.
Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on the Defense Visual Information Distribution System at https://www.dvidshub.net/fmpao, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”
Also try downloading the Digital Garrison app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2023 12:47 |
| Story ID: | 454057 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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