Fort Belvoir's Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt and Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane accepted a proclamation by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declaring June 14-20 as Army Strong Week throughout the county at today's reg...
FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- Fort Belvoir's Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt and Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane accepted a proclamation by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declaring June 14-20 as Army Strong Week throughout the county at today's regularly scheduled meeting at the Fairfax County Government Center.
The proclamation was made in recognition of the Army's 234th birthday, which occurs June 14.
During the meeting, which began with the presentation of the U.S. and Army flags by the Army Continental Color Guard and a rendition of "Yankee Doodle" performed by an element of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, Chairman Sharon Bulova read a proclamation calling the week "an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of our military and acknowledge our nation's noncommissioned officers."
In tribute to the Army's Year of the NCO, Blixt deferred the opening comments to Berhane, the installation's senior-most NCO.
"It's an honor to serve the community and we thank everyone for their support," Berhane said. "You make us feel at home."
Blixt added similar sentiments during his remarks.
"We greatly appreciate the acknowledgement and look forward to continuing our partnership with the community," Blixt said. "It's what drives us in our mission."
Mount Vernon supervisor Gerry Hyland thanked Blixt and everyone at Belvoir for their hard work related to Base Realignment and Closure. He then spoke of his enthusiasm for the future Army Museum, which is to be constructed at the installation in the coming years.
"I remember lobbying Congress about this museum and I think it's marvelous that we're finally going to have a place that will show everyone the history and significance of the Army to this country," Hyland said. "I'm really looking forward to it and I'm quite pleased to know that it will be located at Fort Belvoir. It's a great place for it."
On June 12, Fort Belvoir will mark the Army's birthday, as well as the 233rd anniversary of the nation's flag, with a ceremony on the parade field in front of post headquarters from 10 to 11 a.m.
It will feature an NCO historical timeline, with living historians in period uniforms and Army vehicles from World War II to the present. The ceremony concludes with a fly-over of Blackhawk helicopters from the 12th Aviation Battalion headquartered at Belvoir's Davison Army Airfield.
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