Vol. 63, No. 46 Published in the interest of the 7th Infantry Division and Fort Carson community Nov. 18, 2005 Visitisit thethe FortFort CarsonCarson WWeb site at www.carson.army.mil Carson memorial unveiled Story and photo by of the history of the Blue Star Spc. Aimee Millham Memorials. Mountaineer staff The project was started in 1944 by Standing outside Gate 1 in the middle New Jersey Garden Clubs as a highway of a small circle of garden landscape, beautification project. With the there is now a Blue Star Memorial approval of the highway commissioner honoring all the men and women who of New Jersey, the club planted 10,000 have served and are still serving in the dogwood trees along a six-mile stretch U.S. Armed Forces. of highway to serve as a living memorial The memorial, which was funded to all service members. by USAA, was unveiled in a ceremony The project was named after the Nov. 10 and was dedicated to Fort blue star in the Armed Services’ flag. Carson in honor of its Soldiers by the It became a nationwide project a Cheyenne Mountain Garden Club. few years after its inception, and today “We owe so much to those who the Blue Star Memorial highway system serve,” said Joan Franson, regional includes more than 70,000 miles of director of the National Garden Clubs highway, and there is at least one Blue — the organization which runs the Blue Star highway in each state. Star Memorial project nationwide. The memorials are not limited to Franson went on to attribute highways though. There are now three America’s strides in democracy and the types of memorials: the highway marker; freedom of its citizens to all troops. the memorial marker, which is set in Following her, Jan Maynard, the places like veterans’ hospitals and Col. Michael Resty, Fort Carson garrison commander, and Joan Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs’ Franson, regional director of National Garden Clubs, unveil a new Blue Star Memorial chairperson, spoke See Memorial, Page 7 Blue Star Memorial outside Fort Carson’s Gate 1 Nov. 10. WCAP ‘smoked’ in boxing smoker Christopher Story and photo by Spc. Brian Trapp NMU USOEC team. It turned out to be a tough match Downs, red 14th Public Affairs Detachment for the WCAP and Golden Gloves, who took just two shorts, with the Fort Carson’s World Class Athlete of the six bouts. World Class Program boxing team took a hit last week, This isn’t the first time the WCAP and USOEC Athlete Program, competing against some of the top amateur teams met, but it was the first contest with a decisive is paired up with boxers in America. finish in recent memory. In their last two meetings the DeRae Crane Some of the WCAP boxers who were teams came out split pretty even, said Al Mitchell, of Northern scheduled to fight couldn’t make the event, USOEC head coach. The Army and USOEC teams are considered the Michigan so WCAP teamed up with Colorado Golden top two amateur boxing teams in America, but they University Gloves for a scheduled boxing smoker U.S. Olympic don’t agree on who is in second place. against the Northern Michigan University Education Center, “This was a good developmental tournament, and U.S. Olympic Education Center boxing in the main event. it will be good for building relations with the other ath- team Nov. 10 at Garcia Fitness Center. Downs defeated letes because a few people from these two teams will Crane 24-12 in the The matchup featured six bouts with be on the Olympic team together in three years,” said 178-pound match WCAP Soldiers and members of Colorado Maj. Michael Hagen, WCAP commander. Nov. 10 at Garcia Golden Gloves pitted against one of the top Fitness Center. amateur boxing teams in America, the See Smoker, Page 20 INSIDE THE Feature Happenings MOUNTAINEER Have a safe and Opinion/Editorial Happy Thanksgiving thoughts. Page 2 Happy Military Thanksgiving Soldiers of the 3rd ACR celebrate Veterans Day with Iraqis. Page 5 Due to the holiday, there will be no Mountaineer Community Nov. 25. Heart set on a family? Consider adoption. Page 11 Mountain Post celebrates Native Denver Museum of Nature and American Heritage. Sports Science free to Soldiers. Post Weather hotline: Finance volleyball team goes 526-0096 undefeated. Page 35 See Pages 26 and 27. See Pages 35 and 36. MOUNTAINEER 2 Nov. 18, 2005 Opinion/Editorial Celebrate Thanksgiving — extend traditions to others this holiday Commentary by Maj. Gen. Robert W. Mixon Jr., each following president until 1941, when the day Dining commanding general, 7th Infantry Division of thanksgiving became law. Facilities; they and Fort Carson In America, Thanksgiving has now taken on too will be We’ve all heard about the first American a family tone — a day for family reunions, a serving the Thanksgiving. More than 100 pilgrims set out from gathering of friends, touch football in the front yard Thanksgiving Plymouth, England, Sept. 6, 1620, headed for or football games on television, along with sharing feast with all Virginia, on board the Mayflower. a traditional meal. the trimmings. Although they landed in the wrong place — As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, let us Please see the Massachusetts — after 65 days on the ocean, they remember those of our Mountain Post family who Community set about to establish homes and a settlement. aren’t able to gather around the dinner table or Briefs section These courageous people planted and harvested television because they are deployed in support on page 12 of plentiful crops in the autumn of 1621. The 51 of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring the Mountaineer surviving pilgrims shared a bountiful feast with 90 Freedom, or other locations. for dining American Indians, giving thanks for their survival, Consider inviting single Soldiers who aren’t able facility loca- their new land and the foods they were able to to celebrate the holiday with their families into your tions and times. grow and harvest for this feast. home for the holiday. At the Indeed, a day of “thanksgiving” in the autumn is Let us remember those families the Soldiers left Mountain Post, celebrated by many countries, though perhaps called behind. Add them to your list of family and friends we have much by other names. to share in giving thanks. to be thankful Mixon It seemed appropriate to those hardy people who In the tradition of giving, Soldiers from Fort for. We’re had set sail from Europe for the new world, who had Carson will prepare hundreds of turkeys, potatoes and thankful for the weathered a harsh winter and reaped a plentiful vegetables, along with several desserts to serve in the continuing community support we receive. We’re harvest to celebrate and offer thanks. annual Salvation Army Community Holiday Dinners thankful for the privilege of living in this community That first American feasting and celebration went of Colorado Springs. These traditional meals will be and this country. We’re thankful for the gift of on for three days. served in several locations on Thanksgiving Day at freedom, and the opportunity to serve our country. Although the custom to celebrate and give thanks no charge. Locations are: Odd Fellows’ Hall, 575 S. Ruth and I want to wish you and your loved ones continued over the years, it wasn’t until President Union; Fountain Valley Senior Center, 5725 a joyous and happy Thanksgiving. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed “a day of thanksgiving Southmoor; Marian House, 13 W. Bijou; 606 Manitou I extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every and prayers” in 1863 that it became an official day Ave in Manitou Springs; and the Salvation Army one of you for all you have done for our country. for Americans. Center, 908 Yuma. May God continue to bless our Soldiers, families, He renewed the proclamation each year as did And don’t forget our very own Mountain Post our Army and the United States of America. Share your thoughts with the community! Letter gives thanks Send a letter to the editor to [email protected] or I want to take the time to thank drop it off to bldg 1550, room 2180 two GMH employees who went above and beyond the call during a recent (Nov. 3) wind storm. When our shed disintegrated in the back yard while I was TDY to Fort Lewis, Wash., Carlos and Mike from GMH came to my wife’s assis- tance, trying to secure the pieces and prevent injury to others from flying debris. Unfortunately, the wind blew my wife into the remains of the shed, causing a significant cut to her forehead, a good sized lump to her head and a black eye. Carlos and Mike helped her into the house. Mike then took her to Evans Army Community Hospital What is your “Going home to be “Lots of food, being “Our tradition is for treatment, staying with her and Favorite with family.” with family and getting together then returning her home. watching football.” with family and I appreciate the dedication of Thanksgiving everybody cooking. ” these two individuals and their assis- Tradition? tance to my wife in my absence. Robyn Mroszczky Spc. Shawn Bryant Sgt. Timmathy Martin Looking out for one another is Family Member HHC, USAG HHD, 2nd Brigade one of the attributes we cherish most about living on post. Lt. Col. Mike Hargis Office of the Staff Judge Advocate Fort Carson MOUNTAINEER This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorse- editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Commanding General: publication for members of the U.S.