It said thanks to the soldiers in a pretty big way as members joined more than 100 troops from the 13th Sustainment Command, and hundreds more business and community leaders from Temple and Belton at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center on Friday for this year’s Military Appreciation Luncheon.
The lines were long and the plates were piled high with barbecue chicken, potato salad and all the other fixings needed for a proper barbecue lunch.
Soldiers, who would have otherwise been at work, were happy to get away and have a nice sit-down lunch with members of the community.
Spc. Justin Dara, 27, feasted on lunch as he fingered the edge of a handmade thank you card that rested in the center of his table.
“It’s good that the community shows support for the soldiers,” said Dara, who wouldn’t have been at the luncheon if not for a call from his boss.
“I got a call and they told me to go and get on the bus,” he joked. “I’d heard about this about a week ago, but I didn’t know I was coming until this morning.”
Soldiers were joined by civilians, including many veterans.
Charles Tischler, who served in the Army at the end of the Vietnam War, was there as part of the Knights of Columbus organization to show support for the soldiers.
“This is great,” Tischler said. “In a free country you have to support your military. There are very few ways that you can visibly support them, and this is one.”
Kenney Martin, chairman for the Temple Chamber of Commerce, thanked the soldiers and Brig. Gen. Paul Wentz, commander of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), for coming out and having lunch.
“You are here in our community and we appreciate you,” Martin said. “It’s especially an honor to break bread with you Texas style as we do here because I am sure you don’t normally have good barbecue like this.”
Wentz, keynote speaker for the event, thanked the Temple community for its support of the soldiers and their families.
“This luncheon clearly shows the commitment the Temple community has to the recently signed Army Community Covenant,” Wentz said referring to the document signed early last summer by members of the Fort Hood and the Bell County community. “Part of the covenant states that the strength of soldiers comes from the strength of their families and the strength of their families is supported by the strength of the community ...”
Wentz praised the Bell County community for the various ways it supports soldiers, such as adopting units and luncheons like the one Friday.
“I have to say that I’ve never seen a more outstanding example of community support in my 28-plus years of service,” Wentz said. “Knowing that our communities and our fellow citizens are in our corner as we go to do our nation’s bidding, certainly makes it easier to go.”
Nearby, Spc. Jim Schneider and Spc. Eric Flores sat quietly listening to the speakers. Since they both came into the military in 2005, they’ve been to several of these events and always have enjoyed the love expressed by the community.
“People actually appreciate what we do,” Flores said. “It shows a lot.”
When asked if they would attend an event similar to this one if they had never served, both men said they were not certain.
However, Schneider said that since he has served, his perspective has changed on what it means to show appreciation for the troops.
“I know how much they appreciate our service and to see other people do that, especially these civilians out here - some of them may not have any idea about the military, about our lifestyle - it’s pretty special because I don’t know if I could do the same thing,” he said.
