FORT SILL, Okla- On September 5th, Soldiers from 4th Battalion 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade got to see the fruits of their labor come to fruition.
The Soldiers took time to give back to the Lawton-Fort Sill Community at large and volunteered for the Swinney Elementary School in Lawton to help build their new playground.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on September 5th and the students got to see and play on the new playground for the first time.
"The reaction was great, the kids were so excited to see them running around and playing, it was amazing," said Capt. Samuel Flaming.
20 Soldiers in all volunteered a total of 16 hours a piece to help build the playground, and to them this project had the ultimate payoff.
"It was exciting to see something come together from nothing," said Sgt. Ruark Olson. "I volunteer when I can, but this is the first time I have volunteered in a project of this size, and so far it is the best project I have volunteered on," said Olson.
Soldiers of 4-3 ADA know how important it is to give back to their community and what it means to volunteer to something bigger than themselves.
"It feels amazing to be able to give back, to see the kids running around thrilled and excited, we are proud to serve our nation and community and it was rewarding to see the kids excited about the playground," said Flaming.
"To see the spirit of volunteerism and selfless service manifest itself, particularly in the building of a playground at a local elementary school, makes you proud to be a Soldier and proud to be a contributing partner in our local community," said Lt. Col Todd Schmidt, commander 4-3 ADA.
"Giving back to our local community, particularly here in Lawton-Fort Sill, gives our Soldiers an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction. This community provides such a strong foundation of support to our military, it really is quite humbling," said Schmidt.
The Soldiers worked in part with Leadership Lawton and various other organizations that volunteered to help complete this project.
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