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Reader feedback
“It’s important to celebrate the diversity of America,” said Lt. Col. Rudy Lunasin. See page 2 for more Black History Month feedback.
Grappling for gold
Pillows for wounded warriors Volunteers help Red Cross support recovering service members. See page 5.
erald Union H Vol. XVI, No. 10
Wiesbaden: Your home in Germany
Warriors battle for bragging rights on mats, courts. See pages 13, 16 and 17.
Feb. 27, 2014
Photos by Carl Burnett
Training with USAREUR’s NATO partners in Wiesbaden Members of the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, provide medical evacuation support for U.S. Army Europe international combat lifesaver training Feb. 19 on Clay Kaserne. USAREUR’s Surgeon General team provided the training and certification at the Dragon’s Lair combat lifesaver training facility on Clay Kaserne for members of the Bundeswehr, Finnish and Austrian armies, including German military working dog teams.
Soldiers helping Soldiers Annual fundraising campaign kicks off March 7 By Karl Weisel
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office
More than seven decades have passed since military leaders recognized that readily available help was needed for Soldiers and their families facing financial hardship. Since Army Emergency Relief was founded by the Secretary of War and Army Chief of Staff in 1942, “we have given away some $1.5 billion,” said Mary Cheney, Wiesbaden Army Community Service manager for AER counseling and AER loans. “We not only help Soldiers, we also help retirees, immediate family members and
surviving spouses.” While interest-free loans are the primary mode of AER assistance, other forms include scholarships and grants. “For wounded warriors coming out of theater, we give a one-time $500 grant to help them in transition,” said Cheney. As the perfect example of “Soldiers helping Soldiers,” AER relies on the generosity of contributors. Last year people pledged more than $81,000 in U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Cheney said, adding that this year’s fundraising campaign kicks off March 7. The AER campaign continues through May 15.
“Anybody can give,” Cheney said. “It can be a onetime monetary contribution or, if they prefer to spread it out throughout the year, they can do it by allotments.” Examples of AER assistance include everything from emerPhoto by Karl Weisel gency leave situations to help Marchers make their way through the streets of Frankfurt with covering the loan on one’s during the annual Fasching parade. primary vehicle, medical bill payments to the cost of special helmets for infants. “Turnaround can be in as little as 30 minutes, Know the legal limits nacht, carnival in Europe is depending on the complexity of time when people tend to and avoid pickpockets aconsume the case,” Cheney said. more beer, wine and By Robert Szostek “We don’t charge any interliquor than usual. Officials at U.S. Army Europe Office of the est,” said Cheney, explaining Provost the U.S. Army Europe Office Marshal Public Affairs that people in need should Office of the Provost Marshal remind contact AER before turning to a Whether the locals call it members of the U.S. forces that See AER on page 5 Carnevale, Fasching or Fas- See Fasching on page 5
Hazard-free Fasching
Youths knock down pins to earn scholarships ... page 12