FORT SILL, Okla. -- On Sept. 5, Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery got to see the fruits of their labor appreciated.
The Soldiers gave back to the Lawton-Fort Sill community and volunteered at Swinney Elementary School to help build a new playground.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Sept. 5, then the real fun began when students played 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.
Twenty Soldiers volunteered 16 hours apiece to help build the playground. 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."
The Soldiers 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.
Lt. Col. Todd Schmidt, 4-3rd ADA commander, expressed his appreciation for the selfless work of his Soldiers.
"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," he said.
"Giving back to our local community, particularly here in Lawton-Fort Sill, gives our Soldiers an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction," said Schmidt. "This community provides such a strong foundation of support to our military, it really is quite humbling."
The Soldiers worked in part with Leadership Lawton and other organizations that pitched in to complete the project.
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