FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers from D Company, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), helped students celebrate the end of the school year during Black River Elementary School's annual field day Monday.
The Soldiers, along with parents and faculty members, assisted with the event by serving as game referees and providing static displays of military vehicles.
While the field day offered attendees a break from the day-to-day routine, it also was an opportunity for those attending to connect on a personal level.
"You get to see a different side of the Soldiers and kids," said Angela Martin, a faculty member at the school. "The way (Soldiers) interact with (students) is pretty neat."
Martin continued to say it was nice to look beyond the uniform and see the person beneath.
"When the kids see Soldiers in formation, they look straight, strong and disciplined," Martin said. "But here they are calm, friendly and goofing around with the kids."
Spc. Michael Vega, an infantryman assigned to 2-87 Infantry and an obstacle course referee, said the event was all about the feeling one gets from helping others.
"There is no better feeling than giving back to your community," he said. "Why wouldn't you want to help brighten someone else's day? You never know what that could do for them in the long run."
Sgt. 1st Class Seth Rathbun, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, took the morning off to support his eldest son, who participated in the event.
"I try to come to attend all the community events if I can," Rathbun explained. "I'm going to deploy for my fifth time soon. So any extra time I get to spend with my Family, I do."
While field day is over and the students' summer vacation has begun, the relationship between 2-87 Infantry and the local community will continue to grow.
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