Fort Walker treats local community to capability display at fall festival

By Christopher HallOctober 23, 2023

BOWLING GREEN, Va. – Employees from Fort Walker’s Fire Department, Police, Safety, Range Control, Public Affairs, and Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, joined in community fun at the Bowling Green Harvest Fest October 21.

Also participating in the event with Fort Walker was the Fort Gregg-Adams Explosive Ordnance Disposal annex and Fredericksburg, Virginia U.S. Army Recruiters.

The third largest fall festival in Virginia, Bowling Green’s Harvest Fest draws over 10,000 guests annually, featuring a classic car show, live music venues, crafts, food vendors and more. Fort Walker has traditionally participated with a small table featuring information about the “3Rs” (Recognize, Retreat, Report) unexploded ordinance program.

This year, with cooperation among all the Fort Walker directorates, the team was joined by 6th Company, Baltimore Battalion, U.S. Army Recruiting Command and the EOD annex from Fort Gregg-Adams, delivery a large and unique U.S. Army presence for all the visitors of the event.

Wide-eyed children crawled inside an M1227 Panther, learned how to operate a battery-powered jaws-of-life, sat behind the wheel of a fire engine, learned how to escape a smoke-filled home in the “smoke” trailer, and were educated on what to do if they encountered unexploded ordnance in the environment.

This “Know your Army” interactive display was designed to educate the public on the mission of Fort Walker, as well as showcase the different paths available to those interested in pursuing a career with the U.S. Army as a Soldier or Civilian.

Fort Walker treats local community to capability display at fall festival
Attendees at the Bowling Green, Virginia's annual Harvest Fest get an up close look at an M1227 Panther MRAP. (Photo Credit: Christopher Hall, Fort Walker Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL