Signing their AER allotment checks, from left, are Garrison Commander Col. Glenn Mellor, AER Campaign Coordinator Capt. Hunter Wilson, 1st Sgt. Erika Vargas and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Juan Jimenez.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Signing their AER allotment checks, from left, are Garrison Commander Col. Glenn Mellor, AER Campaign Coordinator Capt. Hunter Wilson, 1st Sgt. Erika Vargas and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Juan Jimenez. (Photo Credit: Photo by Erin Elise ) VIEW ORIGINAL
From left, AER Campaign Coordinator Capt. Hunter Wilson, Garrison Commander Col. Glenn Mellor, and Financial Readiness Program Manager Olivia Pierce attend the kickoff of the Army Emergency Relief annual fundraising campaign.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, AER Campaign Coordinator Capt. Hunter Wilson, Garrison Commander Col. Glenn Mellor, and Financial Readiness Program Manager Olivia Pierce attend the kickoff of the Army Emergency Relief annual fundraising campaign. (Photo Credit: Photo by Erin Elise ) VIEW ORIGINAL

“We Take Care of Our Own” is an anthem written by Bruce Springsteen.

Though the song is written about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, its words and emotions are reflected in the annual Army Emergency Relief giving campaign “80 years helping the U.S. Army take care of its own.”

The 2022 effort kicked off March 8 with a $100,000 goal; the campaign ends May 31.

“I’m glad to have the opportunity to participate in the opening kickoff,” Garrison Commander Col. Glenn Mellor said. “Last year, we handed out $58,000; we also gave out about $47,000 in grants and loans.”

Soldiers taking care of their own has been AER’s tradition since 1942. Team Redstone each year supports this mission of helping Soldiers and their families in times of emergency needs.

At last week’s kickoff event, Mellor, Capt. Hunter Wilson, 1st Sgt. Erika Vargas and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Juan Jimenez participated in signing the first allotment checks.

“It will take a concerted effort to get this done,” Mellor said. “We need volunteers of every unit to contact every Soldier out there.

“It’s all about Soldiers helping Soldiers.”