Photos by Eve Meinhardt/Paraglide Staff Sgt. Ketorrin Edwards, 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Fires Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, leads first graders at Loyd E. Auman Elementary School in Fayetteville, through an obstacle course during their field day, April 29.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Fires Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division spent three days with hula skirts, bandanas and leis accessorizing their uniforms. The paratroopers volunteered their time helping the children of Loyd E. Auman Elementary School on Raeford Road with their annual field day, April 28 to Friday.

The event marked the third year that the unit sponsored the school’s field day. The children and the paratroopers all seemed to enjoy their time together.

“It’s a great opportunity to spend time with tomorrow’s future. We get the chance to show our commitment to the surrounding community and provide positive reinforcement to these kids,” said Staff Sgt. Ketorrin Edwards, one of the paratroopers from 1st Bn., 321st AFAR, volunteering at the event. “They get a chance to see what team building is all about and we get a chance to provide mentorship and friendship.”

The school’s physical education team works closely with Sgt. Maj. Freddy Rivera, sergeant major, Directorate of Public Works, to make the event happen each year. Pam Carroll, PE resource teacher, has been a part of the field day since the Soldiers began providing assistance and said she is grateful for the leadership the paratroopers provide.

“It’s such a wonderful thing and really highlights their community spirit. It’s great to see them open up around the children and be such positive role models,” said Carroll. “It’s such a privilege to have them here, especially knowing that the majority of these young men and women were protecting our freedoms over in Afghanistan last year.”

Rivera said one of the field day events he enjoys most is the raising of the flag each morning.
“Each morning, before the start of the field day events, our warriors huddle around the school’s flagpole for a prayer and present honors to the nation as the flag is being hoisted to its rightful place,” said Rivera. “The children are always intrigued to see our men and women demonstrating such discipline. It is rather moving when you consider the fact that these same men and women in uniform could be one of their parents, a brother or a sister.”

The children anxiously awaited the Soldiers who started each event. After a quick water break, Morgan Kirkland, 6, was ready to compete for the warrior bands the students got to add to their “spirit sticks” for exhibiting cohesiveness and team spirit. As the paratroopers walked up to the field, she excitedly yelled out, “come on Armies!”

Her kindergarten class then got ready to start their event, carrying small mats on a hockey stick and depositing them into a waste receptacle. If they got 15 in two minutes, they would receive two warrior bands.

As they started the race, they collectively yelled, “I can do it!” Then cheered each other on from the sidelines. They did it and they did it together, just like the Soldiers taught them to do.