FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Army Community Service turns 50 this month, and the Fort Drum ACS staff invites the community to join them in celebrating this milestone on July 24.
"We have a long, proud history of supporting communities and taking care of Soldiers and Families," said Catherine Ferran, Fort Drum ACS director. "So, we're throwing them a big party with lots of activities to celebrate."
The party will kick off outside the ACS building on Conway Road with a trail walk scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
A carnival is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the bowling alley parking lot adjacent to ACS, with games and prizes, cotton candy and popcorn and activities for Families to enjoy. Children can make use of the bounce house, rock climbing wall and, perhaps, get a chance to soak the garrison commander at the dunking booth.
Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) will have their ACS knowledge tested at the ACS-ology Battle of the Battalions Trivia Challenge, scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m.
Installation leaders will take part in the celebratory birthday cake-cutting, and attendees can help judge the ACS Cupcake War. Staff members will decorate cupcakes with ACS themes and display information about their programs while people determine who has the best presentation.
In conjunction with the celebration, McEwen Library will host the North Country Children's Museum Kids' Stage and Music Lab exhibit from noon to 3 p.m.
This interactive learning exhibit allows children to create musical instruments, dress up in costumes and act out scenes using sound effects.
In preparation for this golden anniversary, the ACS staff is compiling scrapbooks for each program, with photos and written histories from people who are and have been employed there. Anne Wilson, who was hired as Fort Drum's first ACS officer in March 1981, shared her recollections for the scrapbook.
The biggest challenge from the start, she said, was generating commander support for family advocacy. Eventually a much-welcomed level of trust from the chain of command was established, and Wilson said it became one of the job's perks.
During her more than five years at ACS, she saw an increase in post population from 12,000 to 42,000 and the ACS staff expanded to 11. There was less dependency on volunteers, as positions were created with appropriated funding. Initially responsible for eight regulatory programs, to include foster care and child development services, ACS developed new programs to include family readiness groups, Army Family Team Building and support for wounded warriors.
"It's pretty much a one-stop shopping center, or should I say, mall, to meet all military and Family Member needs throughout the military life cycle and beyond," Wilson said. "This is also true across the services."
The original intent for ACS was to provide information, assistance and guidance to Army community members in meeting family problems beyond the scope of their resources.
The goal was not to remedy the situation completely, but to help individuals help themselves. The ACS theme was "Self-Help, Service and Stability" and its logo was a cross and gyroscope -- imagery associated with giving help and stability.
"After 50 years, our mission is still largely the same, but we have expanded immensely over the years," said Ferran, who began working for ACS overseas in 1987. "If we don't have the answer, we're designed to help find the answer for someone. It's still part of our job to help people connect with resources to meet their needs."
Ferran considers the golden anniversary a significant achievement, and there's a lot of pride among those who work for ACS.
"For 50 years, we have been dedicated to supporting the Soldiers and Families across the country and around the world," Ferran said. "Our philosophy is when someone walks in here we will never tell them 'no, we can't help you.' We will find a way."
For more information about the ACS 50th Birthday Celebration, call 772-6894 / 6799.
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