FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 4, 2016) -- all started when Chuck Rossi, president of Liberty Utilities Georgia, was looking at a map and noticed something.
"I saw Sacrifice Field and I didn't know what it was, so I got in the car and drove out here to see it. I started walking around and looking at the monuments that were here," said Rossi.
Rossi said he was impressed with the monuments, but noticed they could use a good cleaning.
"So I got it in my mind that I would like our company to take care of this," said Rossi who contacted Col. Patrick Donahoe, MCoE chief of staff, to see who they could partner with to make it happen.
From there, a unique partnership between Liberty Utilities and the Officer Candidate School was born, bringing both communities together on April 30 armed with pressure washers, sponges and soap, with one goal in mind - to restore the monuments at Sacrifice Field.
Cadet Aundeah Kearney, Class 004-16, said that this service project gave her the opportunity to learn about the history of the monuments.
"Before we were given this task, I hadn't actually come out here and looked at any of the monuments, so it was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the history that's here at Fort Benning and what they've (the veterans) accomplished before us," said Kearney.
While OCS regularly completes service projects on weekends, this was their first partnership with Liberty Utilities.
"It's exciting to meet some people who are just as passionate about this as we are," said Kearney, referring to the employees of Liberty Utilities.
Rossi said it was a great opportunity for Liberty Utility employees to visit Fort Benning and give back to the military community.
"We support our military and think so highly of them, but you also kind of feel helpless to do anything, and so this is an opportunity to be able to come in here, come in the neighborhood where the military operates and do something tangible.
It's small at the end of the day, but its something that makes a difference and something they could see," said Rossi.
Cadet Tommy Ryberg, said he recognized that restoring the monuments is a way to honor veterans and the sacrifices they made.
"Honoring them and what they did, in my mind, is the only thing I can do to even come close to making up for their sacrifices," said Ryberg.
Sacrifice Field is home to 10 monuments honoring Soldiers from World War II to Desert Storm. Each monument is as unique as the Soldiers it honors, with one monument even honoring war dogs.
Sacrifice Field is located on Main Post on Baltzell Avenue.
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