FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Fort Sam Houston leaders met with representatives from the
Fort Sam Houston, Northeast and San
Antonio Independent School Districts for a luncheon Oct. 22 to discuss recent
successes and future plans for the installation’s “Adopt-A-School” initiative.
The Adopt-A-School program was established by Fort Sam
Houston to partner area schools with Fort Sam Houston units. Soldiers volunteer
their time to assist the schools by mentoring students and upgrading facilities
among other efforts.
“As someone who has two kids who are grown and now out of
the house, I have a deep appreciation for what teachers do,” Lt. Gen. Perry
Wiggins, commanding general, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) and senior Army
commander for Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, told the educators in
attendance. “You absolutely are one of the most important segments in our
society today and we have put a lot of responsibility on you.”
Representatives from the schools and units spent almost an
hour detailing events they had held over the past six months, ranging from
reading programs to staging a special performance of the Soldier Show.
In the near future, many schools have Veterans Day
activities and all of the schools were extended an open invitation to attend
the Fort Sam Houston Salute to Veterans Ceremony Nov. 13.
Currently, 10 schools take part in the program: Pershing,
Lamar, Bowden, Washington, Wilshire, East Terrell Hills, Camelot and Fort Sam
Houston Elementary Schools, plus Wheatley Middle and Cole Middle/High School.
Mark Greszler, Army North deputy chief of staff for
installation management, told the audience that 10 schools is about the right
number considering the number of units on Fort Sam Houston, but added that he
wasn’t averse to expanding the program.
“We’re always interested in
opening this partnership up to more folks. If other schools are interested, we
will try to accommodate them,” he said.