Anniston Army Depot Commander Col. Brent Bolander, second from right, speaks with (from left) Gavin Moore, Ella Payne, Kristyn Rowe and Brantley Champion about the importance of working hard in school as Coldwater Elementary Principal Michael Manisca...

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Depot Commander Col. Brent Bolander and Depot Sgt. Maj. Debra Buie toured Coldwater Elementary School and spoke with school officials Oct. 24, reaffirming the installation's commitment to the Adopt-a-School program.

"In 1983, the president of the United States inaugurated the National Partnerships in Education Program, requesting that each agency identify schools and establish a partnership with that school. It was not until October 1986, that Anniston Army Depot began sponsoring Bynum Elementary School under the Adopt-a-school Program. When the school merged with Coldwater Elementary School in 1999, the depot continued the relationship," said Marilyn Futrell, ANAD's Adopt-a-School Liaison.

Over the years, the depot has provided the school with fire prevention programs, mentoring through the depot's Mentoring Program, Substance Abuse Prevention programs (such as the Red Ribbon Campaign, Just Say No to Drugs Campaign), recycling program services and safety awareness.