VICENZA, Italy — Sixty years ago, Lt. Col. Robert Elkowitz’s parents had just married, his mother was four months pregnant, and his father was preparing to deploy to Vietnam.
It was the summer of 1965 — the same year Lt. Col. Emma M. Baird helped launch Army Community Service, now a cornerstone of Army life around the world.
Elkowitz, the garrison chaplain for U.S. Army Garrison Italy, spoke during a July 24 celebration at Caserma Ederle to mark ACS’s 60th anniversary.
“When the Army started ACS, it was a whole different world. There was a whole different Army at that time,” Elkowitz said. “I’m now so thankful for ACS.”
Despite challenges over the years, including staffing shortages, Elkowitz praised ACS staff for their professionalism and dedication.
“They continue to help our soldiers, their families and our civilians with resources they truly need,” he said.
At USAG Italy’s Camp Darby installation in Pisa, a separate celebration was held the day prior. In Vicenza, ACS Director Jolly Miller welcomed dozens of community members to the event, which featured cake, refreshments, face painting, coloring stations, and volunteers dressed in original brown ACS uniforms from the 1960s.
A photo of Baird was placed by the cake. Established July 25, 1965, ACS traces its origins to Army Emergency Relief efforts in the 1940s that supported families during World War II. With Baird’s leadership, ACS became a structured system designed to provide continuous support to Army families.
Today, ACS falls under the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation program. It offers services including the Exceptional Family Member Program, Family Advocacy, Financial Readiness, Relocation Assistance, Volunteer Corps, and Survivor Outreach Services.
ACS is located in Building 108 on Caserma Ederle. For more information, call +39 0444-71-5800 or visit them online.
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