Army Community Service turns 59 on July 25, but one could argue the spirit of ACS has been alive and well since the Army’s inception 249 years ago.
Army spouses, most noted for personal sacrifice and compassion, were taking care of each other from day one. With geographical separation, spouses were wrestling with real and imagined casualty reports, not to mention poverty and extreme isolation. The cure for their ailing spirits? Connection and purpose. These Army spouses rallied to orchestrate child care, man lending closets, and operate thrift shops as a means to care for and share with one another.
The efforts of volunteer Army spouses endured before, during and after major conflicts but were most notable in the 1940s, when the steady introduction of social service delivery positively impacted the married Soldier, comprising 25% of the active population. Civilian attorneys, social workers and psychiatrists volunteered free services to stabilize the individual or family system. These volunteers illuminated the demand for continuity of care, propelling the official establishment of Army Community Service in 1965. Volunteers, both lay and professional, truly are the heart of ACS.
To celebrate the Army Community Service birthday, the Redstone Arsenal ACS is hosting creativity stations on July 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at building 3443, the Pershing Welcome Center, to show our appreciation to those who serve both in and out of uniform. As a symbol of resourcefulness and giving, purses can be tie-dyed to display how we are all tied together in community. As a symbol of steadfastness and strength, rocks will be available for painting to portray the “rock” or solid foundation within our Army community. As a symbol of ACS’s longstanding history in providing refreshment, light refreshments will also be served.
Redstone Arsenal’s ACS looks forward to refreshing service members, military retirees, DOD civilians and their families for several years to come. Stop by to learn more about our Redstone Arsenal programs, including the Thriving Families lunch-and-learn series, Psychological Finance (P$yFi) classes/podcast, ChildWise play mornings, Personal Safety Skills classes, Special Needs Information and Referral, annual Financial Symposium, and annual Wellness Summit. If you are looking for what our Army spouses discovered in connection and purpose all those years ago, volunteers are always welcome. For more information, ACS can be reached at 256-876-5397.
Editor’s note: Olivia Pierce is the financial readiness program manager at Army Community Service.
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