By URIAH KISER
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Veterans who have served in this nation’s all-volunteer military are owed more than just a handshake a thank you – they deserve a chance to continue serving country and community.
That was the message delivered by Col. Gregory D. Gadson on Wednesday. The commander of Ft. Belvoir Army Base spoke to members of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce at its annual salute to the military luncheon in Woodbridge. Soldiers and Marines were represented at the event, and the community’s gratitude was bestowed upon them for their service.
As the nation’s military faces deep cuts in services and spending, now the transition from the military to civilian life is top of mind for many in the armed forces.
“Qauntico and Ft. Belvoir are not islands. We are apart of the Northern Virginia community. In many ways, we are all teammates. Every one of us who puts on this uniform eventually takes it off and comes back to a community and looks for a way to make a difference,” said Gadson.
The colonel said the many who have seen combat and were apart of the military’s ramp-up over the past decade are now leaving the military, coming home, and looking for work, and that business owners – many of whom do not have direct contact or experience working with the nation’s military – should realize the value American veterans can bring to their companies.
Gadson, himself, was also given a second chance of sorts. He lost both legs after an IED exploded in Iraq in May 2007. In the past, the Army would have simply given him a honorable discharge. Today he’s leading Ft. Belvoir, and Gadson said the U.S. knows members of its all-volunteer Army deserve better than to be tossed away.
Touting an office at Ft. Belvoir dedicated to helping vets transition into the workforce, Gadson invited those in the business community to become involved in the Army’s efforts to put all transitioning veterans to work on the home front.
In addition to Gadson, Quantico Commander Col. David W. Maxwell also spoke and honored some Marines whom serve on his base. Soldiers who also spoke commended the Army for helping them become the people they are today, and the Chamber of Commerce awarded each Marine and Soldier who spoke was honored with a small gift.
The event was held at the Harbor View conference center in front of a crowd of at least 200 people. Lunch was provided, Quantico’s color guard was on hand to present the flag, and a bugler played taps to honor those who paid the ultimate price and could not attend the ceremony. The first major event of 2013 for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, it is one of several planned throughout the year.
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