FORT SILL, Okla. (MApril 16, 2015) -- Fort Sill hosted the Great Plains Area Regional Special Olympics April 10 at Prichard Field. The event coincided with the post's health expo and safety fair, part of the Healthy Base Initiative.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
About 325 athletes from 13 counties in Southwest Oklahoma participated in track and field events. Another 75 "Stars of the Future," ages 3-7, played indoor games at Honeycutt Fitness Center. Many of the participants will go on to the Oklahoma State Special Olympics in Stillwater, May 13-15.
The event was hosted by the 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. Col. Jim Payne, 30th ADA Brigade commander, welcomed the athletes, families, volunteers and supporters.
"To the athletes I tell you: You have already won. Your greatest reward is not victory, but simply mounting the courage to compete," Payne said. "Perseverance, commitment, passion and resilience are your greatest victory to be celebrated upon the fields of life."
Donna Sparks, Great Plains Area Special Olympics director, said about 600 volunteers helped make the event a success. That included over 400 Soldiers and service members postwide.
Sarah Mansel, Adaptive P.E. teacher at MacArthur, Eisenhower and Tomlinson Middle schools, brought all 100 of her students to the competition. She said the athletes benefit from the games.
"I think the biggest thing for them is the camaraderie, having fun, feeling like they're a winner," she said. "They feel like they have really done something for themselves. And everyone is so happy for them."
The 30th ADA Brigade's battalions helped organize the events, and its volunteers helped run the competitions, as they cheered on the athletes.
Volunteer Pvt. Destiny Martinez, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery, was one of five Soldiers from her battery volunteering. She helped man an inflatable bounce house at the Health Expo. She said she volunteered because she enjoys working with children.
"It (volunteering) is selfless service, and I'm giving back to people," she said. "It's fun."
After each competitive event, every athlete was recognized. Soldiers and volunteers pinned ribbons on the athletes as they stood on podiums to the applause of onlookers.
"Everyone is a winner regardless of their finish," Sparks said.
Virtually every brigade, unit, tenant agency and directorate was represented at the six-hour event, whether with service members and civilians volunteering at the Special Olympics or helping to run the expo. Many units incorporated the event as part of their duty day.
safety fair
The safety fair kicked off the post's summer safety awareness program, said Garry Gaede, Field Artillery Branch safety manager, and project officer for the fair. Numerous state, local, private and Army units and organizations were represented.
"We wanted everyone in the community to meet and greet with them (agencies) to learn what kind of community outreach programs are available," Gaede said.
Agencies represented included the Oklahoma Highway Department, American Red Cross, Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department, Lawton Police Department and its lake patrol, Comanche Nation Police Department and Comanche County and Fort Sill Emergency Management teams.
There were also booths set up with Soldiers to teach lawn mower safety, as well as to show precautions when barbecue grilling.
"We've had multiple accidents with things like that," Gaede said.
Because of the current and past proliferation of ordnance expended at Fort Sill, the 761st Explosive Ordnance Detachment had a booth with displays to bring awareness to people about the dangers of unexploded ordnance or UXOs.
"There's a lot of impact area, which is mostly Soldiers' concern, but we also have a lot of hunting and fishing areas, which in former times may have been used as an impact area," said Staff Sgt. Curtis Reynolds, 761st EOD, team leader.
With April designated as domestic violence, and alcohol abuse awareness month, the fair provided a timely opportunity to educate people on these topics.
Visitors at the Army Substance Abuse Prevention booth drove golf carts between pylons while wearing drunk goggles to simulate impaired driving.
HEALTH EXPO
Like the safety fair, Maj. Orlando Ruiz, Fort Sill Public Health chief, said the Health Expo was to let the Fort Sill community know what kind of health, fitness and wellness resources were available to them not only on post, but in Lawton, too.
Vendor tables ranged from healthy cooking tips to blood pressure screenings to numerous clinics from Reynolds Army Community Hospital.
At the Platt College booth, students and staff offered blood glucose and blood pressure screenings as well as free massages, which were a popular attraction.
Fort Sill dental hygienists manned a booth to promote dental health for children and adults, said Spc. Agena Hamilton, Dental Command registered dental hygienist.
They held puppets with massive teeth which kids used to practice brushing.
Hamilton said one of the common questions was, how often should I change my toothbrush? "You should replace your toothbrush every three months, or if you get sick you should replace it," she said.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Dwight Morrisey, Operation Homefront director of programs, provided information to visitors about his agency's services.
"We provide emergency financial and other assistance to military families, normally in ranks E-1 through E-6, and wounded warriors of all ranks," Morrisey said. "We provide food, utility payment, sometimes rent. Last year, we gave away 138 homes nationwide to military families."
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