Deployment for the 372nd Support Battalion
Current mood: thankful
Category: Blogging

I have been meanning to write a note of thanks to the soldiers of the 372nd Support Battalion TNG. These guys are getting ready to deploy and a few weekends ago they had their Deployment party at Adventure Landing in Dallas, Texas. A friend of mine Sue Rebar and I were in charge of the planning for this event.

Quick history. Sue is the Founder of a charitable organization called "Welcome Home Troops" I met her early this year when we got hooked up together to promote a free Baseball game for the Soldiers in California. Now after 6 partnered events I consider her not only a Golden asset at my racing events but also a true friend with a pure heart to serve.

The event was really planned in less then 10 days and the amount of pressure to make this event special weighed heavily on both of us. Both Sue and I had heard of stories of punch and sandwiches in some Base Building with low attendance from the Families (who would blame them) and mandatory attendance from the soldiers. We talked about our vision of what it should look like and since we were in agreement we told the MSG that we would like to help. Pretty much from that point we were in charge. I was looking for the location, I wanted something with a racing theme, and after a disastrous negotiation with the first Go Cart Park, I turned over finding the location to Sue.

Adventure Landing work with us and opened a huge number of possibilities for our party. Needless to say they were exactly in the right place at the right time and did everything they could to make this possible for the troops. I went to my sponsor and they supplied a huge number of items for the Soldiers gift bags. Then they offered the Interstates Batteries NASCAR to add to my car and Display. Military Ministries sent books, bibles and tons of information for the families of the soldiers. We had a local DJ come do the Music, a bounce House for the Kids, and a huge BBQ meal.

The reality though is without the right people no matter what you provide the event won't be a success unless people are allowed to have fun. So My first thank you goes to the Command who set the tone of the day. For them allowing two fairly unknown civilians to take over an event that most of the time is considered a low priority. Thanks to General Furlow for helping us find the funding for this event. But most of all thanks to the soldiers who broke out in dance when "Cranked up" by soldier boy was played. To the soldiers that didn't mind sweating in the heat to play volleyball, to the families that drove 5+hours to support their soldiers. To the Bikers who volunteered there time and day to come tell the soldiers thanks and then became our ongoing supply of ice and drinks.

I had stressed over the decorations, the food, drinks, raising funds and a bunch of other stuff we didn't even need. But the lesson is Fun is in the people. And these soldiers truly are the best.

Now as their time to deploy draws near we need to remember them, and we need them to remember this day. And know that America cares about them.