Belvoir commander hosts New Year's Reception for community partners

By Brittany Carlson, Belvoir EagleJanuary 16, 2014

Commanders Reception
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir Commander Col. Gregory D. Gadson hosted the Fort Belvoir New Year's Reception for community partners Friday at the Fort Belvoir Officers' Club.

The commander's holiday reception is an annual tradition designed to provide an opportunity for partner units and organizations in the Fort Belvoir community to socialize outside of work, and to thank them for their continued support, Gadson said.

"The many folks that have been invited are typically our partners and stakeholders in our community. It's important to renew those ties often," Gadson said. "It's to not only recognize the holiday season but also usher in the New Year … and allow folks to get together in a setting that's not about business, but about sharing the spirit and the optimism of the future."

At the event, guests had the chance to greet members of the garrison command group and their spouses, mingle over hors d'oeuvres and listen to music provided by the U.S. Army Band.

"These events are incredibly important," said Leo Filipowicz, Defense Acquisition University, director of operational support group. "These relationships that we have are very important, even with other tenants on the base, because we do synergistic things. These are the only chances we get to socialize and talk about other things that we normally don't get a chance, during the week, to talk about."

The New Year's Reception provided a way for leaders to build those relationships even more, added Maj. Gen. Ted Wong, Northern Regional Medical Command, commander, and U.S. Army Dental Corps, chief.

"It's an opportunity to foster that esprit de corps amongst all of the elements on post, and it helps us to work better together when we're able to meet each other and talk about issues," he said.

Nancy-Jo Manney, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, executive director, said the reception was also a way for her to thank Fort Belvoir for its continued support throughout the year.

"We value our partnership," she said. "We do a lot with Fort Belvoir. Coming here to the New Year's Reception is our opportunity to say, 'Thank you, we appreciate that relationship, we value that you value us.'"