-- Rarely do Soldiers have the ability to interact with so many children, at so many levels, as Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, did at Trinidad, Colo., schools, March 4,6 and 7.
"Warhorse" Soldiers took time away from training to visit children in the grade of kindergarten through 12th grade as they answered questions, read books, ate lunch and participated in recess.
"I think when we visited the children it was a very good day for them," said Sgt. Matthew Olah, radio operator maintainer, Company B, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT. "They enjoyed it immensely; they were all smiles, giggles, hugs and high-fives. It was exciting for them as it was for us."
The Soldiers all agreed that volunteering in the community was important.
"I believe Soldiers can make good role models," said Sgt. 1st Class Laura Barillas, battalion human resource specialist noncommissioned officer in charge, 2nd STB. "Some of them mentioned they wanted to actually be in the service. Maybe it kind of opens the door for some of them to join the military"
Teachers knew the Soldiers visiting meant a lot to the students.
"You guys are larger than life to them," said Cherie Holder, 1st grade teacher, Eckhart Elementary School. "This was just really great that you could come and they could see you and see you are real people."
The schools' staffs were also pleased to have the Soldiers visit.
"I think it was good for us as a faculty to just get to say thank you and we appreciate what you are doing," said Holder.
Students were not the only ones to take something away from the day.
"I think Soldiers just got a great joy of being able to interact and maybe give them an idea of what to do in the future," said Olah. "I have never seen so many Soldiers smiling ear-to-ear and at the end of the day, talk about how sore their cheeks were from smiling."
As Soldiers returned to the training site, what they didn't get to do enough of was fresh in their minds.
"I wish I could of got to read to them more," said Olah. "I kind of got distracted with the questions. I hope to be able to go back down there and read to them again."
The Soldiers engaging the schools was one of many community engagements the Warhorse Brigade participated in, to include a meeting with city officials, a community day and a dinner in downtown Trinidad, during the month-long training exercise at Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colo.
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