By Tim Cherry
Staff writer
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Fort Belvoir community can celebrate the installation’s bond with its local neighbors during the 11th annual Springfield Community Bridge Walk, Aug. 28.
The bridge walk, which takes place at 7 p.m., connects businesses, political leaders, civilians and the installation through free food and exercise.
Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander Col. Gregory D. Gadson, Headquarters Battalion Soldiers, politicians and civilians will travel across Veterans Bridge to honor current and former servicemembers and Belvoir’s partnership with the surrounding community.
American flags, Army uniforms and march cadences mixed with veteran and civilian support is a touch of what participants can expect to witness during the walk.
Belvoir is providing Soldiers, Springfield’s Kings Park Concert Band will provide the music, Fairfax County is providing the venue and participants are encouraged to bring their dogs and a patriotic spirit to the festivities.
“It has a very small town feel to it and it’s a Family-fun event,” said Linda Waller, communication director for Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay, Lee District, who is sponsoring the event.
Waller said Fairfax County is providing door prizes donated by partners, cake, barbeque sandwiches, ice cream, chips and bottled water.
Many business and local community groups such as the American Legion Springfield Post 176 will operate static display tables filled with information concerning their organizations. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is one of the various Fort Belvoir agencies with a table representing the installation.
Fort Belvoir Headquarters Bn., Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Sgt. Bradley Scott encourages the Belvoir community to participate in the festivities and witness the appreciation civilians have for servicemembers and their Families. The first sergeant, who has marched in two bridge walks, said civilians will applaud and cheer as Soldiers march across the bridge.
“It’s a pretty good morale booster,” Scott said. “Soldiers and Families get to see how much the outside community appreciates the military.”
According to Waller, the bridge walk ceremony started in 2002 to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11 and to thank the men and women of the armed forces. The ceremony also gave thanks to the Virginia Department of Transportation for redesigning Veterans Bridge into a more pedestrian-friendly and aesthetically pleasing overpass.
“The people had a good time and we’ve been doing it every year since,” Waller said. “It gets larger every year and we contribute this largely to the participation of the Fort Belvoir community.”
The festivities this year will end in the American Legion Springfield Post 176 parking lot where Gadson and civic leaders will provide remarks and sign the Army Community Covenant. The covenant signing, which started in 2009, is an affirmation of support by state and local communities to active, Guard and Reserve servicemembers and their Families.
“Signing the covenant solidifies us all celebrating together as one,” Scott said.
Fort more information, call Linda Waller in the Lee District Supervisor’s Office at (703) 971-6262 for more information.
