AER kickoff emphasizes help for Soldiers, families in time of need

By U.S. ArmyApril 15, 2014

AER kickoff emphasizes help for Soldiers, families in times of need
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Pine Bluff Arsenal's Army Emergency Relief Campaign kick-off was held March 6, at the Arsenal's Community Club. This is the first campaign kick-off to be held at the Arsenal.

"Welcome to the kickoff. It is a pleasure for me to be here," said Lt. Col. Diego Gonzalez, Army physician at PBA's Army Occupational Health Clinic, as he welcomed everyone to the event. "This is a very important event for us. AER was originally created to raise funding for helping the Army's own, to take care of our brothers and sisters and their families."

Gonzalez said that the Arsenal had done a very good job of raising money for AER in the past. "Last year, the Arsenal contributed $27,000 and in past years more than $30, 000," he said. "This is a good thing."

Following the welcome, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's ROTC Color Guard posted the colors and Rev. Edna Morgan, Arsenal chaplain, gave the invocation. "We are so grateful for the opportunity to give and care and love one another. Bless those we will speak to us today and share to us during this campaign," said Morgan during her prayer.

The program continued with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Glen Minor, Arsenal retiree from the Directorate of Engineering and Technology, followed by an AER campaign video displaying Soldiers who needed AER for certain life situations and how it was beneficial in their time of need.

AER, incorporated as a private nonprofit organization Feb. 5, 1942, is the Army's own emergency financial assistance organization. The organization is dedicated to "Helping the Army Take Care of its Own," and its primary mission is to provide financial assistance to Soldiers, retirees, and their Families. AER can provide needs for food, rent or utilities funeral expenses, medical expenses, college scholarships and even vehicle repair.

After an introduction by Missy Brodnax, director of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation, John Webber, with the Arsenal's Directorate of Law Enforcement and Security, spoke on his personal experience with AER.

"As we saw in the film, most of the time when AER is used it is by young Soldiers," said Webber.

He then told the story about his time as a young Soldier stationed in Alaska. "I was called into the office by the platoon sergeant at that time. Since platoon sergeants aren't usually too friendly, I sat there thinking what did I do wrong this time," said Webber.

He then explained that his platoon sergeant broke the news of his mother's illness. "I knew tickets for a flight home to Virginia were costly but I was assured that they were going to get me home. I then met with a local AER counselor," said Webber. "The next morning I was on a plane headed back home. At that time, my mother had five days left. I made it back home in time to say goodbye."

He said that event in his life taught him a lot. "I learned that good military leaders know how to look into a person's soul and get them to the right place, AER is one of those places," he said.

The program concluded with special entertainment by F. Beaver Johnson. Johnson sang "God Bless America" from the movie "This is the Army". According to information from the Internet, this American wartime motion picture donated its gross earnings to AER, which totaled approximately $9, 55,586.44. Proceeds from this film continue to be donated to AER to this day.