By Tim Cherry
Staff writer
Thursday, August 30, 2012

Servicemembers, veterans and Families received strong support from the civilian community during the 11th annual Springfield Community Bridge Walk, Tuesday.

The walk honored current and former servicemembers and provided a visual image of the partnership U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir has with the community that surrounds its gates.

Soldiers, Marines and Navy servicemembers led the march across Veterans Bridge and into the American Legion Post 176 parking lot where politicians, businesses representatives and Springfield community members pledged their support to the military.

“This is what America’s about,” said Garrison Commander Col. Gregory D. Gadson. “That continued commitment is a motivator for all of us members of the greater military Family to go the distance when duty calls, when we have been assured that our brothers and sisters in arms and Families will be taken care of.”

Military members who accompanied Gadson included: Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Chester Grelock; Rear Adm. Thomas Meek, National Geospatial-Intelligence military support director; Marine Capt. James McLean, Marine Detachment, Fort Belvoir, commander; Fort Belvoir

Headquarters Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Brian Zarchin; and Fort Belvoir Headquarters Battalion Command Sgt. Maj Carolyn Reynolds.

Civic leaders representing the local community included: Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Supervisor, Lee District and Bridge Walk sponsor.

The Legion parking lot and interior auditorium were filled with food, raffles and a variety of informative table displays from local community groups and Fort Belvoir, including Belvoir Federal Credit Union, the Boy Scouts, and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

Gadson, Moran and McKay each gave brief speeches after the walk across the bridge. Moran called Belvoir an intricate part of the local communities surrounding the installation that improves the area’s economy through employment and business opportunities.

Moran, who serves on the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee and the defense and military construction subcommittees, said the civic community’s support of Belvoir and the military requires more than words and parades. Moran believes it requires providing a daily commitment of legislative support towards making the right decisions involving war, Families and medical care. The military, in Moran’s eyes, represents the world’s greatest meritocracy and deserves such a commitment.

“It breaks down barriers of race, gender and of every other category that is not of consequence, when it comes to defending our country’s principles,” Moran said. “Fort Belvoir is leading the way and showing what the Army can be, and is, which is an example for the rest of the world to follow.”

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.

Gadson called his first bridge walk a source of inspiration and encouragement for the Soldiers and Families of Belvoir. He expressed appreciation toward the local community for supporting the armed forces and told the crowd Belvoir is committed to a good relationship with its neighbors.

“It’s not just a footnote in the conversation,” Gadson said. “We genuinely embrace our neighboring communities with a sincere attitude of wanting to make a difference.”

The continued partnership between Belvoir and the community was cemented in ink during the event’s Army Community Covenant signing. The signing, which began in 2009, reaffirms support by state and local communities to active, Guard and Reserve servicemembers and their Families.

Gadson, McKay, Moran and other politicians all signed the covenant on behalf of Soldiers and the civilian community.

“The renewal of this covenant every year is such an important part of building a strong relationship with our friends at Fort Belvoir and saluting our troops who serve our community,” McKay said.