3rd ADA Soldiers lend a helping hand

By Yvonne Johnson, APG NewsSeptember 8, 2014

3rd ADA Soldiers lend a helping hand
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - It was back to school for more than just school children last week, when Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 3rd Air Defense Artillery (JLENS) descended on Magnolia Middle School in Joppa Maryland, for a community service project Aug. 22.

The unit marked its offical arrival at APG the day prior during a ceremony at the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center.

Just six days before doors opened on the new school year, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Peter Wesolowski, JLENS flight director, and 1st Lt. Carl Hartman, JLENS mission director, led nearly 40 Soldier volunteers who performed landscaping tasks such as mowing and edging the lawns, raking leaves, trimming hedges, power washing walls and sidewalks and stuffing back-to-school packets.

The help was more than welcome, according to Toni Sawyer 6th-grade assistant principal.

"We've been under renovation, focusing on everything from ceiling to floor so this area has been neglected," she said. "I'm just so delighted. We work so hard here and now thanks to these Soldiers, it shows."

Wesolowski, who met Sawyer while registering his child for the new school year, said the first thing she asked him was to, 'please excuse the mess outside.'

"When she explained what was going on I told her I might be able to get some volunteers to help them out," he said. "I didn't expect to get this many. It's awesome."

Though they planned to work most of the day, the Soldiers were working at such a steady pace they might be done by noon, Wesolowski said. He added that despite being new to the community, the Army sees community service as a never-ending commitment.

"It's important for units to get out and volunteer," he said. "Across the board, most people don't see the good things Soldiers do. Every day, they are doing positive things not only for their country, but in their communities."

"I've done plenty of work like this before," said Pvt. Demetrius Wyatt as he trimmed hedges in front of the school. "It's not hard at all."

"We're Soldiers so we're used to working with our hands," added Pvt. Landon Brown. "What's even more important is we're doing it for the community."

The school provided fresh fruit, bottled water, pastries and other refreshments for the troops.