FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Sept. 24, 2015) -- The Army Community Service Survivor Outreach Services program hosted a Gold Star Mothers' and Families Remembrance Concert Sunday at the Fort Leonard Wood USO.
The event serves as an opportunity for Fort Leonard Wood leadership to join together to help keep survivors connected to the military, as well as show appreciation to them as part of the military Family.
Gold Star Families from all over Missouri were invited. Guests had the opportunity to view the 2010 Survivors' Memory Quilt, the 2013 Survivors' Freedom Flag and a table featuring the photos of the service members honored.
The day began with an ice cream social, where Gold Star Families served ice cream to service members at the USO.
"This was an effort to uphold the tradition of the American Gold Star Mothers group that volunteers with the USO and veterans facilities across the nation," said Jody Carmack, Survivor Outreach Services support coordinator.
The 399th Army Band Rough Riders, with background music by the 399th Army Band saxophone quartet, Icarus, performed a variety songs dedicated to 14 individual service members and to all service members and survivors in general. Gold Star Families requested the songs that were performed at the event.
A total of 31 survivors attended, including post leaders Maj. Gen. Kent Savre, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Ward, MSCoE command sergeant major, Col. Andy Herbst, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Tyson Goolsby, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood command sergeant major and approximately 24 other leaders and their guests.
Gold Star mother, Marcela Rice, offered free hugs to service members at the USO. She said the event was a way for to remember her son, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Reece.
"The concert rocked," Rice said. "All the preparations and the ice cream social were wonderful. I'm blessed to have received so many hugs and (to) be able to share my love and gratitude to all of (the service members) for their service."
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