JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCORD, Wash. - U.S. Army Soldiers and leaders from I Corps at JBLM were out in force this Veterans Day weekend to offer support to local communities across the Puget Sound region.
"We cannot do what we do without you, because as an all-volunteer force we represent the fabric of this nation. We represent all aspects of society and we need your support so we can continue to sustain the trust you have in us as a profession, and more importantly the all-volunteer force that serves our nation," said Lt. Gen. Steve Lanza, I Corps commanding general, during a Veterans Day interview with King 5 Seattle.
Lanza spent much of Veterans Day in Seattle speaking with local news media, the West Point Society of Washington Puget Sound, and visiting with the Nisei Vets - a Japanese American WWII Veterans group.
He also accompanied Soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division to deliver a special message to the 2 million viewers of ESPN College Game Day at the University of Washington in Seattle, Nov. 12.
"As all you know on Dec. 10 College Game Day will be in Baltimore for the 126th Army-Navy Game. Now I talked to Coach Corso earlier and I know the outcome of this game. Now watch this.... Go Army, Beat Navy!" Lanza shouted to the chorus of a dozen Soldiers at his side.
Coach Lee Corso was the defensive backs coach for the Naval Academy from 1966 to 1969, and now works as a commentator on College Game Day, a show that airs on the sports network during College Football season and is filmed on-site at a University with a high performing Football team at the time.
The University of Washington Huskies were ranked number four in the country with an undefeated 9-0 winning record going into Saturday's game against the University of Southern California Trojans. They suffered their first defeat this season at the hands of the Trojans.
Despite the loss, the evening was the Salute to Service game. It is one event the University held to honor the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces and offer support to the local military community here in Washington State.
The half-time entertainment for the game included a joint band and marching performance with the 56th Army Band from I Corps and the University of Washington band and marching unit.
In addition to the Salute to Service Game, the University hosted a Veterans Day ceremony and reception, Nov. 11, with Lanza being the keynote speaker for the event.
"The University of Washington has eight medal of honor recipient graduates. That is the second most of any University with the exception our [military] service academies," said Lanza. "That is something to be very proud of."
JBLM and the University have an academic partnership that serves as a way to connect the military with those they serve and provide academic fellowships to service members serving at the base.
Aside from the Veterans Day events in Seattle, I Corps was represented at various events across the State.
Maj. Gen. Thomas James, 7th Inf. Div. commanding general, was the keynote speaker at a Veterans Day event in Olympia, the capital of Washington State. The event was attended by Gov. Jay Inslee, governor of Washington.
Maj. Gen. Mark Stammer, I Corps deputy commanding general, was the keynote speaker at Evergreen WASHELI, the largest cemetery in Seattle. Every Veterans Day thousands of residents attend the event to lay flags on the tombs of Veterans who have passed.
The 593rd Sustainment Command - Expeditionary leadership team attended a Veterans Day ceremony at the Tacoma, Washington War Memorial Park.
Canadian Brig. Gen. Dany Fortin, I Corps deputy commanding general-operations, attended an I-5 corridor renaming ceremony at the Lakewood, Washington town hall. The city renamed the stretch of I-5 running through the city the Boulevard of Remembrance in honor of WWI Veterans.
You can see Lanza's full interviews and photos of this Veterans Day Weekend at:
https://youtu.be/FjsWOLCN2Wk
https://youtu.be/gWOR6lroUbg
http://bit.ly/2fCWB7I
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