In June, Army Heritage Month, this nation pauses to thank and honor all those who have served in the Army over the past 246 years. They had the courage to stay the course and work together as one team in support of our nation.
In May 2019, the secretary of the Army approved Army Directive 2019-20 implementing Army Heritage Month into the Army’s equal opportunity program. The directive was effective immediately and applies to the active Army, National Guard and Reserve. It established June as Army Heritage Month, centered around the Army birthday on June 14. The Army was founded on this date in 1775 when the Continental Congress authorized the enlistment of expert riflemen to serve in the American Continental Army.
Flag Day is also celebrated on June 14 to honor the U.S. flag and to commemorate the flag’s adoption. Army Material Command’s Equal Opportunity Adviser and Program Manager, Master Sgt. Elaina Paxton, said honoring the Soldiers who had the courage to confront agony, danger and uncertainty, especially in battle to serve our nation is key to celebrating Army Heritage Month.
“We’ve always celebrated the Army’s birthday in June. However, this is only the third year since Army Heritage Month was added to the Army’s military Equal Opportunity Program calendar of observances,” she said. “Commanders of Army commands, Army service component commands, and direct reporting units will observe and conduct Army heritage and birthday activities during the month to recognize the service and sacrifices of a diverse Army and our long history of defending the nation and our national interests. Several events and activities will take place on Redstone to highlight Army Heritage Month.”
The Army birthday celebration is the key event to celebrate Army Heritage Month.
On Saturday, June 12 the Garrison’s directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation will hold the 246th Army Birthday celebration at the Redstone Gateway, near Gate 9, from 5-9 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature a “Cruise-In” Car Show, food trucks, craft vendors, fireworks and a glow stick fun run/walk around the Gateway. It honors the commitment of service members and celebrates the Army’s time-honored traditions and heritage.
Redstone Senior Commander Lt. Gen. Donnie Walker will open the event with remarks and participate in a cake cutting ceremony with Garrison Commander Col. Glenn Mellor.
Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Juan Jimenez has been involved in planning the Army birthday celebration along with others in the Garrison.
Jimenez said he is excited about the Army birthday celebration and encourages people to participate. He added we can celebrate Army Heritage Month by sharing information about the Army’s past and present.
“It is very important to celebrate the U.S. Army’s heritage in order to continue to educate our current and future generations of Americans about the Army’s rich history of men and women who have laid the path to freedom that we so enjoy as citizens in the U.S.,” Jimenez said. “This allows us to share the history of Soldiers past and present as a constant reminder that we appreciate our Army and our Soldiers from the Army’s establishment in 1775 to present times.
“The Army has allowed me to experience some great and challenging aspects of life while serving for the past 28 years. As a noncommissioned officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as ‘the backbone of the Army.’ Serving our nation as a Soldier affords me the ability to give back a small fraction of what this great country has given not only to me, but my family as well. I realized that freedom is not free while growing up listening to my dad and uncles’ challenging stories of their time serving in the Army at various locations, moreover Vietnam. As a kid I always felt like I wanted to do more and joining the Army gave me that opportunity.”
For more information about Army Heritage Month, call 256-450-6575.
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