Fort Bliss Monitor

City Hosts Soldier Appreciation Picnic

Spc. Matthew MacRoberts
Monitor Staff

Soldiers and their families gathered here Sunday and enjoyed an evening of music, outdoor games and free food and drinks at Kelly Park.

The Soldier Appreciation Picnic was part of Freedom Fiesta, the month-long celebration and series of events that culminates in the middle of June. Dave Casmus, president of Omar Bradley Association Chapter of the United States Army said, “Number one [supporting Soldiers] is the patriotic thing to do. Soldiers selflessly preserve all that we hold dear as a peace-loving free society. Number two, the City of El Paso and the Chambers of Commerce recognize that Fort Bliss and the Soldiers and families who serve here are an important, and indeed critical, fabric of the community.

“The business community is a strong supporter of Fort Bliss because they are very proud of the close relationships Soldiers have forged with the community,” said Casmus.

He said that in many ways, the community is repaying the military. There are many Soldiers and family members that volunteer at schools, churches and in community civic organizations in the area. “Businesses are also appreciative of the fact that Fort Bliss and the other military installations in the region represent a 2.5 billion dollar economic impact to the community,” he said.

A recent University of Texas El Paso study estimated that every dollar that goes to Fort Bliss for the military missions is rolled over about eight times in the community.

“That is a significant amount of economic impact,” said Casmus. “The successful relationship between Fort Bliss and the community is like any relationship, it’s built upon mutual respect, and long standing friendships. El Paso is proud of the Soldiers who selflessly serve our nation and do the tough jobs that secure our freedom and way of life. A lot of communities say they are ‘Soldier friendly,’ El Paso believes actions speak louder than words. Freedom Fiesta is just one of the many ‘actions’ that proves the relationship is extremely strong.”

The picnic was sponsored by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems who contributed $15,000 to underwrite the picnic. The Fort Bliss Commissary, Albertsons Grocery Stores, Desert Eagle Distributing and many other smaller businesses that contributed goods and services at reduced prices, also provided support. Other Corporate Members of AUSA and the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce sponsored other events.



www.bliss.army.mil		Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 27, 2004

<img src="images/Picnic1.jpg" width="141" height="467">	City Hosts Soldier Appreciation Picnic Spc. Matthew MacRoberts Monitor Staff Soldiers and their families gathered here Sunday and enjoyed an evening of music, outdoor games and free food and drinks at Kelly Park. The Soldier Appreciation Picnic was part of Freedom Fiesta, the month-long celebration and series of events that culminates in the middle of June. Dave Casmus, president of Omar Bradley Association Chapter of the United States Army said, “Number one [supporting Soldiers] is the patriotic thing to do. Soldiers selflessly preserve all that we hold dear as a peace-loving free society. Number two, the City of El Paso and the Chambers of Commerce recognize that Fort Bliss and the Soldiers and families who serve here are an important, and indeed critical, fabric of the community. “The business community is a strong supporter of Fort Bliss because they are very proud of the close relationships Soldiers have forged with the community,” said Casmus. He said that in many ways, the community is repaying the military. There are many Soldiers and family members that volunteer at schools, churches and in community civic organizations in the area. “Businesses are also appreciative of the fact that Fort Bliss and the other military installations in the region represent a 2.5 billion dollar economic impact to the community,” he said. A recent University of Texas El Paso study estimated that every dollar that goes to Fort Bliss for the military missions is rolled over about eight times in the community. “That is a significant amount of economic impact,” said Casmus. “The successful relationship between Fort Bliss and the community is like any relationship, it’s built upon mutual respect, and long standing friendships. El Paso is proud of the Soldiers who selflessly serve our nation and do the tough jobs that secure our freedom and way of life. A lot of communities say they are ‘Soldier friendly,’ El Paso believes actions speak louder than words. Freedom Fiesta is just one of the many ‘actions’ that proves the relationship is extremely strong.” The picnic was sponsored by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems who contributed $15,000 to underwrite the picnic. The Fort Bliss Commissary, Albertsons Grocery Stores, Desert Eagle Distributing and many other smaller businesses that contributed goods and services at reduced prices, also provided support. Other Corporate Members of AUSA and the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce sponsored other events.