Saturday, May 29, 2004
By COREY B. SHOUN
Times-News
The Association of the United States Army is recognizing this area's long tradition of military service and commitment to the armed forces.
Last year, Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, president of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered the 9/11 regional memorial tribute at Tri-Cities Regional Airport.
Before leaving the area, Sullivan expressed a strong desire to see an AUSA chapter developed in East Tennessee.
An exploratory team assembled from Washington partnered with citizens from East Tennessee to begin examining the criteria for charter fulfillment.
The new Tri State Chapter TN/VA/NC will be established to offer support and bring awareness to the region for soldiers and their families.
Lee Fish will serve as president, and Col. Pat Shull will be executive vice president. The chapter will soon finalize its officers and will establish the chartering ceremony.
"America is in a continuous fight for its preservation and freedom," Fish said.
Fish said this region is becoming a military community much like her home of Fort Campbell, Ky.
The local chapter will be a support mechanism that will assist Family Readiness Groups and provide aid to all local active and retired military personnel in any way they need wherever possible.
The AUSA motto is "The Voice for the Army - Support for the Soldier." The Tri State Chapter will also be available to assist the regional ROTC and JROTC programs.
The new chapter will reach out to area businesses and ask that they become corporate sponsors of AUSA to show support for soldiers.
Businesses will be encouraged to offer military discounts and programs to soldiers and family members.
"When a soldier is called to active duty and deployed, spouses, children and family members are left behind to continue their daily lives. They try to do this in as normal a fashion as possible," Fish said. "Incomes are stretched, and frustration is great. When our businesses and industry offer discounts and programs for these individuals, the help for these folks is immense."
Fish said every little bit helps when a family member is absent.
"None of us realizes what is actually going through a child's mind when mommy or daddy leaves. It is up to us as a community to lift these kids up and support the spouses and family members left behind caring for these children," Fish said.
The Tri State Chapter hopes the area's businesses and local governments will "beat them to the chase" of calling and offering whatever they can.
"We want to be proactive, not reactive here," Fish said.
With the deployment of the local National Guard 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment coming soon, the local AUSA chapter has announced AUSA Operation Preservation Freedom.
AUSA Operation Preservation Freedom will focus on continued support for the military and this region's awareness of the War on Terrorism.
"It is imperative that we do not abandon any of our soldiers or their families. The only regret that I have is that the Tri State Chapter TN/VA/NC for AUSA was not formed earlier so that support could have been given when other local units were deployed and returned home," Fish said. "The important thing now is that we are here, and we will be a force for the soldiers and the family readiness groups to call upon from this point forward."
AUSA's national leaders will convene in the Tri-Cities Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at a location to be determined for the Tri State Chapter's official chartering ceremony.
The Tri State Chapter will assume the role of the first official chapter in the state of Tennessee for AUSA. During the chartering ceremony, the chapter and its participants will also pay tribute to victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
For more information on AUSA Click Here or visit AUSA at www.ausa.org.
The Tri State Chapter can be reached at 247-7193, ext. 10, or 247-9047. A Web site is forthcoming.
Fish can be reached via e-mail at lee.fish@airgas.com.
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