FORT RUCKER, Ala. (Oct. 8, 2015) -- Army families take care of one another, and with everything military families face, with relocations, separation and general challenges, Corvias Military Housing and Fort Rucker are committed to giving back to those who serve the Army family.
A family readiness group open house was held at the Corvias building Oct. 1 as a way to say thank you and show appreciation to those FRG members who sacrifice their time to improve the life of Army families and Soldiers on Fort Rucker, according to Curtis Williams, mobilization and deployment program manager.
"The FRG open house is about showing appreciation to those who work within the FRGs here on the installation, so we come together and we celebrate them," said Williams. "This is our way of telling them 'thank you' for supporting our families, our Army and all of the programs that are out there. They commit so much to others, so this is our way to commit to them and show our appreciation for their commitment, which makes a difference in the lives of others."
During the open house celebration, people were able to visit different tables that highlight different organizations on post to see what opportunities are available on post. Door prizes were given out throughout the night, with a grand prize given out to those who visited every table.
People also had the chance to participate in a friendly game of "Family Feud," as different FRG groups went head to head, but not before being treated to dinner.
Paula Dahlgren, military spouse and FRG member for the 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment, said it was great to be appreciated, but also an honor to be able to represent the Army families on post.
"To be able to work with these families and support them, it makes me feel very proud to have that opportunity," she said. "Being at Fort Rucker, you never know if something might happen, so we all want to know one another so that we can be there for each other if we need to. Being in an FRG is about building a friendship and a bond."
FRGs pass information and support families for anything they might need, including emotional support, said Dahlgren. They also host activities and functions to help create and solidify those bonds that help to make Army families more cohesive.
It's because of that bond that it is important to show FRG members how much their efforts are appreciated, said Maj. Gen. Michael D. Lundy, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general.
"I want to thank all of you for everything that you do because what you do is very important to our families and our Soldiers," he said. "FRGs are very important not only for what we do throughout the Army, but especially for what we do (on Fort Rucker.)
"We have a lot of young Soldiers who come through here as first termers, and having a good FRG structure shows them what right looks like, and that's part of what we do here," continued Lundy. "We're in a very dangerous business here, so one of the things that our FRGs do for us is to help us through trying times. This open house is about showing our appreciation to those FRGs and telling them 'thank you' for supporting our families, our Army and all of the programs that are out there."
Lundy's wife, Paula, agreed and said that FRGs are important for families, so that they can have someone to go to if they have any questions.
"The FRGs are extremely important, and it's important for those families and Soldiers to have that group where they can ask the questions, and to have the group that keeps them informed, so we truly appreciate you," she said.
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