Yesterday, I had the privilege and honor of representing Gov. Perdue and the people of the most military friendly State in the America at a ceremony at the Pentagon celebrating the naming of Fort Bragg as the 2010 Gold Medal Winner of the Army Chief of Staff’s Communities of Excellence Award.
Fort Bragg Senior Commander Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick and Garrison Commander Col. Steve Sicinski accepted the award, which was presented by Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch. Accompanying the award trophy was a check for $1 million to support ongoing multibillion-dollar improvements at the base.
The ceremony was attended by a strong contingent of local community leaders who made the trip to commemorate the recognition of their vision of “America’s premier military community, emulating the spirit of the Fort Bragg Soldier.” It was a pleasure to join all of them and Congressman Mike McIntyre of the U.S. House Armed Services Subcommittees on Air and Land Forces, and Terrorism and Unconventional Threats to celebrate this prestigious award.
Among the Tar Heel patriots who took the time to travel for the ceremony were Lee Warren, Cumberland County Register of Deeds and former County Commission Chair; Ronnie and Sharon Matthews of Family Foods, Inc.; Tommy Bolton of CASA-NC; Joy Thrash of the North Carolina Defense Business Association; Tom Costello of the Military Affairs Council; Dan Dederick of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce; W.C. Powers of Powers-Swain Chevrolet; Karen Long of the Crown Coliseum Complex; John Tart of Master Tow Manufacturing; George Breece of the National Association of Amputee Orthotics and Prosthetics; and Graham Moore of Barnhill Contractors.
As the world knows when our President dials 911, the phone rings at Fort Bragg. The factors that led to Bragg’s selection as the top awardee at the ceremony, of all Army installations worldwide, include its role as the premier no-notice power projection platform for the service, its strategic planning and business process improvement focus, sustainable community and quality of life initiatives, and family support programs second to none.
Since 1990, Fort Bragg leads the Army as a winner or finalist for the Communities of Excellence Award. This tradition of leadership is clearly going strong as the base prepares for historic growth as the recent round of BRAC and Grow the Force initiatives play out. With over 10,000 additional soldiers and many more civilians coming by 2013 to expand the bases missions, including the Army’s Forces Command and Reserve Command, it is clear that the Bragg Community of Excellence will remain in the forefront. Our State and local communities remain committed to maintaining the support and investments necessary to keep Fort Bragg ready and able to fulfill all its vital assignments on behalf of our nation.
Today, Fort Bragg will represent the Army at the Commander In Chief’s Installations of Excellence ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of the all-volunteer force of men and women across all the military services.
As Lt. Gen. Helmick said in accepting the Gold Award on behalf of Fort Bragg, “All The Way!”