FORT SILL, Okla. -- Webster University Fort Sill Campus students participated in the school's 18th annual Webster Works Worldwide community service day Oct. 26, with three projects on post.
Almost 30 students signed up for volunteer activities involving the Warrior Transition Unit, and Army Field Artillery and Army Air Defense Artillery schools.
Webster professor Will Johnson assisted students with setting up an ADA display case at Snow Hall.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for Webster and its students to give back to the community," Johnson said. "Many of the students work on Fort Sill, and we hope the spirit of volunteering carries on long after they leave Webster."
At Snow Hall, volunteers moved the Col. William Massello artifacts from an ADA storage facility to the hall, where they assembled a display case and set up its contents under the supervision of Jonathan Bernstein, ADA Museum director.
"Volunteer labor is how we survive," said Bernstein, noting there are only two employees on his staff including him. Whether Soldiers, Webster students or people in the community, Bernstein said he always welcomes volunteers.
The volunteers' efforts showcased Massello, a highly decorated artillery officer from World War II, Bernstein said. By displaying artifacts like this around the installation it lets people know there are all of these ADA exhibits which will eventually be displayed at the new Army Air Defense Artillery Museum when it opens here.
Meanwhile another team of Webster students worked on a landscaping project at the 1st Battalion, 30th FA facility, said Sandra Kunz, Webster senior director. And, at the WTU volunteers helped clean and organize one of the unit's storage spaces.
Webster student Tia Gordon, who works at the Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate, said she regularly volunteers.
"I love to volunteer and it's for a great cause," said Gordon, a master's degree student taking managerial leadership and information security classes.
Col. Christopher Spillman, USAADASCH assistant commandant, said Webster volunteers have helped David Christensen, ADA command historian, the past three years.
"This is just one example of the projects they have been doing to advance the air missile defense history," Spillman said. "It's great to have this particular exhibit displayed because all of our captains and lieutenants transit this hall."
Webster originally began its community service day Nov. 8, 1995, under then-President Richard Meyers for all its campuses to reach out locally, Kunz said. The tradition at Fort Sill began several years ago, and projects at units have included the Henry Post Army Airfield, Fire and Emergency Services, an ADA brigade motor pool and Range Operations.
In her address to the volunteers and post leaders Kunz said, "Volunteers and service recipients alike shared an increased understanding of our interdependency and how even one day can make a difference. Today, our students will make a difference by rolling up their sleeves and serving Fort Sill."
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