Sustainment Soldiers support Paducah Veterans Day parade

By Sgt. Neysa CanfieldNovember 29, 2017

Sustainment Soldiers support Paducah Veterans Day parade
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (left to right) Sgt. Kuassivi E. Kpadenunkulete and Spc. Jocqui Closson, both assigned to 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., speak to a veteran, Nov. 10, 2017, durin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainment Soldiers support Paducah Veterans Day parade
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div. color guard lead the Veterans Day parade, Nov. 10, 2017, in the city of Paducah, Kentucky. Soldiers from the brigade also provide a static vehicle display du... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PADUCAH, Ky. - Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., supported the city of Paducah, Kentucky's annual Veterans Day parade, Nov. 10.

Soldiers from the brigade provided a vehicle static display to showcase the brigade's capabilities and led the parade with a color guard marching unit.

Sandra Wilson, president for the Paducah Chamber of Commerce, served as the mayor pro tem during the Veterans Day festivities.

"It was a great opportunity for [the city] to be able to recognize and honor our service members and remember the sacrifices they have and are currently making for our country," said Wilson.

According to Wilson, this is the second time Soldiers from the 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde. have participated in the city's Veterans Day parade.

"Fort Campbell is the closest base to Paducah, and we appreciate how they have reached out to us and how they want to be more involved with our local community," added Wilson. "We are extremely proud to have a relationship and partnership with Fort Campbell."

Sgt. 1st Class Andrea Madison, the noncommissioned officer in charge for the brigade color guard, marched in the parade along with her Soldiers.

"It was a pleasure to be able to lead such a big event, especially something as special as celebrating Veterans Day," said Madison. "I started to get [emotional] during the parade because it's a great honor to represent not only the battalion and brigade, but the Army as well."

Madison, who has served in the Army for 14 years, said it's important to engage with the communities surrounding the installation.

"Building and maintaining relationships is important because it shows the veterans in the community that we appreciate their service and the path they have paved for us," explained Madison. "I think it also shows our community how important they are to us."

Wilson said she hopes to continue see the partnership grow between the brigade and Fort Campbell.

"By reaching out to us, the Soldiers are able to educate [the city] about what they do and how we can help each other," said Wilson. "Once they serve their time in the military, we also want to recruit some Soldiers to join our local communities."