FORT STEWART, Ga. - Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, spent the afternoon of Sept. 24 not relaxing from a busy workweek, but in uniform at Carver Elementary School, helping run games during the Annual Fall Festival for all three of Richmond Hill's elementary schools.
And not one Soldier was complaining.
"I love hanging out with kids, I have two little brothers, two little sisters, a niece," said Pfc. Jeffery Serro, an M1 armored crewman with D. Co., 3rd Bn., 69th AR, and a native of Waterbury, Ct. "Even on a Saturday, honestly, I love doing stuff like this."
The battalion has been partnered with Carver Elementary for years and supports the school in many ways.
"We support tutoring, career days, festivals," explained 3rd Bn., 69th AR commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Denius. "As the school administrators identify a need, they ask us if there is any interest in helping out. It might be two or three Soldiers, or it may require fifty."
But no matter the number of Soldiers needed, or the day they are requested, there are always volunteers, said Lt. Col. Denius, a native of Columbus, Ohio.
"We have never needed to go to a tasking, the Soldiers have embraced this," he continued. "It's really about liking to do this kind of stuff, and the Soldiers are really impressive that way. There is no one here that doesn't want to be here."
The Soldiers were helping out with stations such as the crab race, football toss, bowling and lollipop tree.
Private First Class James Williamson, an infantryman with A. Co., and a native of Clarksville, Tenn., said he doesn't care what day it is.
"I love it," he said with a grin. "Helping out the little kids and making them smile."
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