COPPERAS COVE, Texas - Walking through the halls of the Martin Walker Elementary School, here, it is easy to see the excited looks on the faces of children eager to begin playing games.
Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division assisted the Martin Walker Elementary's parent-teacher association with their annual Fall Festival fundraiser, Oct. 16.
"This is our biggest fall fundraiser," said Copperas Cove, Texas native, Teresa Gorres, the Fall Festival Committee president and parent-teacher association treasurer.
Gorres explained that the fall festival has been part of the school's fundraising program since the beginning of the school's history in 1977.
"I always enjoy helping with events like this," said Ripon, Calif. native, 2nd Lt. Sarah Hernandez, the Centurion's adjutant. "I am just a big kid."
The festival consisted of different, fun activities for the students to participate in; face painting, bounce houses, cake walks and many others.
"The crowd favorite and largest fundraiser is the cake walk," said Gorres.
Close to $2,000 raised from the festival will help with the schools physical education and music programs.
The Soldiers who volunteered to assist with the event were assigned a station. At each station they were instructed to punch a hole in each student's card and present them a prize for their participation.
"I volunteered to help because I love kids," said Brookville, Ind. native, Spc. Lee Jackson, a logistics specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop. "I am having fun, and the kids are great."
The Centurions have sponsored the Martin Walker Elementary School in Copperas Cove for over eight years and support with the fall festival every year.
"[The Centurions] are a fantastic sponsored unit," Gorres complimented. "Without the Soldiers this would not be possible."
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