Several members of the community will be travelling to Washington, D.C., Thursday and Friday, according to Paul M. Andreshak, executive director for the Southeast Georgia Friends of Fort Stewart and Hunter.
A nonprofit organization started 12 years ago by members of the military community, local governments and governmental agencies, businesses and individuals, “Friends” is dedicated to enhancing the economic impact of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, he said.
Andreshak said the group is planning its annual trip to Washington to visit with Georgia lawmakers and Pentagon officials to thank them for their past support. The group also hopes to remind them what Stewart-Hunter has to offer as far as further investment or at least sustained funding during these hard economic times.
“Stewart-Hunter is a $7-billion-a-year economic engine for this region,” Andreshak said. “We have been selected as an Army Community of Excellence repeatedly since 2003, and the only time we weren’t selected as ACOE was when we weren’t allowed to compete because we had won so often.
“For us to be recognized in this way means we’re doing something right here. It means the military community has a great working relationship with the civilian community, local governments and business. We’re talking to people and listening to people, and we’re serving the needs of soldiers, their families and the community.”
Read more in the Nov. 26 edition of the News.