Army all-stars kick off festivities Saturday
Quad-City military personnel — active and retired — and their families will receive a huge community salute beginning Saturday as the area hosts its first-ever Military Appreciation Week.
The observance, which runs through May 17, will recognize military members and their families for their service and sacrifice. Opening with a covenant-signing ceremony at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, the week of festivities will close with Armed Forces Day at Davenport’s Brady Street Stadium.
The effort has involved community leaders, city officials, military, volunteers and scores of businesses and individuals. From activities for soldiers and their families to military discounts being offered by a variety of area businesses, organizers hope the week brings the Quad-City’s strong military community to the forefront.
“I think the Quad-Cities is really turning out and pulling for the military families and showing their appreciation,” said Alan Kruse, a retired U.S. Army colonel and a member of the Rock Island Arsenal Task Force, one of the driving forces behind the week. “This is long overdue.”
Kruse said the area is home to thousands of active National Guard and Reserve soldiers and retired military as well as 350 active military on Arsenal Island. “I’m not sure the average Quad-Citian knows they’re all around.”
The week also is designed to help the Quad-Cities become “a military-friendly community,” said DavenportOne’s Elaine Barreca, who serves on the task force’s community awareness team. “Really, we’re preparing for the 1st Army to come here from Georgia.”
The community’s military presence will increase significantly over the next several years as the Rock Island Arsenal Federal Campus — the area’s largest employer — sees the arrival of the 1st Army Headquarters. The military population is expected to nearly double to 650 by the year 2011.
“Events like Military Appreciation Week and the Army Community Covenant signing ensure the military and their families know they are valued members of the Quad-Cities community,” said Joel Himsl, the garrison manager of the Rock Island Arsenal Federal Campus.
The celebration begins at 3:45 p.m. Saturday at Modern Woodmen Park with the signing of the covenant. Across the nation, Army installations will be holding special signing events with local communities to reaffirm the commitment of the communities to all the military and their families. Participating at the Quad-City signing will be the civilian aides to the secretary of the army from both Illinois and Iowa, Quad-City mayors and arsenal leaders.
Opening day also includes an exhibition baseball game at 4 p.m. between all-star teams from the U.S. Army and the Quad-Cities. After the all-star game, the Quad-Cities River Bandits will play the Kane County Cougars.
Organizers said they are amazed at how the first-time event has come together in a relatively short period and the business support it has drawn. Among the supporters is Genesis Health Systems, which is providing 1,000 free game tickets to active duty service personnel on Arsenal Island and their immediate families. In addition, the River Bandits are offering half-price tickets to all active, reserve and retired military with valid military IDs.
Other corporate contributions are more ceremonial, such as a flag raising ceremony planned for Monday by Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors. At 11:30 a.m., the Quad-City real estate company will raise a flag that was flown in a combat mission over Iraq at its Moline, office. The flag, which was raised in Baghdad on Father’s Day 2007, was sent home by Eric Ryden, then on military duty. Ryden and his mother, Sandra, both work at the Ruhl & Ruhl office.
Organizers said Military Appreciation Week took root when Davenport 8th Ward Alderman Mike Matson proposed the idea as a Davenport-based initiative. At the same time, the newly expanded Arsenal Task Force was making plans to launch a Military Appreciation Week, and the two efforts combined.
“It started as just a conversation between me and a couple of people ... and it’s just exploded into a community event where tons of people are helping,” said Matson, a retired U.S. Army sergeant major. Matson, who initially worked on the project with Davenport 6th Ward Alderman Jeff Justin, said he came up with the idea after seeing similar events in other communities. “We just want to take a little time to say thanks.”
That’s the same sentiment among dozens of area businesses — who all have risen to the occasion, Barreca said. “Everybody has been working together fast and furiously. It’s been a great collaborative effort. What’s even better is it looks like there is the energy and talking already for what do we do to make this bigger and better next year.”
MILITARY APPRECIATION WEEK
Two major events are planned for Military Appreciation Week:
- Saturday, May 10
Military Salute, Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport
3 p.m.: Gates open; military equipment on display and the Quad-City River Bandits hold an autograph session
3:45: Rock Island Arsenal presents the Army Community Covenant, a document committing the installation and surrounding communities to work as partners to support soldiers and their families Major Gen. Robert Radin, commanding general of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command, will present the covenant.
4 p.m.: The U.S. Military All-Stars face All-Stars from the Quad-Cities. Radin will throw out the first pitch.
5:50 p.m.: New U.S. military recruits sworn in during a ceremony
6:10 p.m.: Quad-City River Bandits face Kane County Cougars. U.S. Military All-Stars sign autographs.
9 p.m.: Minus Six concert
- Saturday, May 17
Armed Forces Day, Brady Street Stadium, Davenport
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Equipment displays, live performances, presentations and table displays. Attendees can meet with all the branches of service, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol and Military Explorers. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.
Throughout the week, area businesses plan special events and offerings:
- Heritage Landscape Design, 30 percent off discount on purchases at the nursery at 4500 49th Ave., Moline.
- Ramada Inn, Bettendorf, discounted rate.
- Open Mortgage, Moline, free appraisals with any closed loan, refinancing or purchase.
- Hilltop Ace Hardware in Rock Island and Silvis, Ill., 10 percent discount.
- VictoryStore.com, Davenport, has produced Military Appreciation Week signs being distributed free to area businesses.
- Hardee’s restaurants, 20 percent discount; must show military ID. Offer good at Illinois locations in East Moline, Moline, Rock Island, Milan, Geneseo, Dixon, Galesburg and Abingdon.
- Inner Health Chiropractic, Davenport, free first-day service, including a consultation, case history, spinal examination and x-rays (if needed).
- Davenport Citi-bus will offer free bus service all week for military.
- Quad-City YMCAs will offer week-long passes for military families and no joining fee. Facilities include Two Rivers, Moline; Davenport North, West and downtown; Bettendorf, and Maquoketa, Iowa.
- RIA Federal Credit Union will deposit the first $5 in a new account and free first order of checks for a new checking account. Military appreciation gift provided with a deposit of $100 or more.
- Col. Davenport House, located on Arsenal Island, free admission to active military personnel and discounted admission for their spouses and families.
For events, details and other specials, go to RIArsenaltaskforce.com.
Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.