Supporting local troops and families is AUSA Eastside goal

An Eastside AUSA Subchapter (Parkland, Spanaway, Frederickson, Graham, Roy) was formed in March of this year. They are meeting on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month at JR’s Whistle Stop in the Elk Plain area at 6 p.m. in the evening.

General John Hemphill with Greg Hollman and

AUSA is the Association of the U.S. Army. AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organization that supports America’s Army – Active, National Guard, Reserve, Civilians, Retirees, Government Civilians, Wounded Warriors, Veterans, and family members.The local group is seeking to network with members of all the other organizations in the area. There will be opportunities for each of those groups to participate and be recognized while supporting the events that AUSA is promoting in support of our local troops.

The first of these events is a Welcome home party for members of the Triple Nickle. That’s the 555^th Engineer Brigade based at Joint Base Lewis McChord. The brigade is a subordinate unit of 7th Infantry Division, I Corps. That event will be held at Pacific Lutheran University on November 12, a Tuesday from noon to 4 p.m. It will involve bouncy houses, popcorn, cotton candy, face painting, balloon animals, music and so much more.

President of the Eastside Subchapter is Greg Hollman, immediate past President of the Parkland-Spanaway Rotary. Also participating in the group, the person who helped spearhead the Eastside Subchapter, is retired General John Hemphill.

Their next planning meeting is August 21, 6 p.m. at JR’s Whistle Stop at Bethel Station, 224^th & the Mountain Highway.

More about AUSA

AUSA’s chapters are located world-wide. Their mission is to support our Soldiers and the civilians and families who work alongside of them in the local community. They do this by Supporting troops and helping welcome them home.

AUSA represents every American Soldier by:

– Being the voice for all components of America’s Army
– Fostering public support of the Army’s role in national security
– Providing professional education and information programs

The Association of the United States Army, the Captain Meriwether Lewis Chapter, associated subchapters, and committees are non-Federal entities. They are not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and they have no government status.

AUSA has 125 chapters located worldwide. Made up entirely of volunteers, they provide recreational and educational opportunities to Soldiers and their families. Most importantly, they support our deployed Soldiers and families left behind. AUSA and its’ chapters have contributed over $2,000,000 to awards, scholarships, and support of soldier and family programs.

Membership is open to all components of the Army, families, government civilians, companies and concerned citizens.

An example of the events that AUSA sponsor’s locally for the troop is the Great American Picnic being held in in Sumner, July 20, 2013. 11a.m. to 6 p.m.

The local Subchapters of AUSA:

Bonney Lake AUSA SubChapter

Camp Murray-Minuteman AUSA SubChapter

Dupont AUSA SubChapter

Eastside AUSA SubChapter (Parkland, Spanaway, Frederickson, Graham, Roy)

Gig Harbor AUSA SubChapter

Lacey AUSA SubChapter

Lakewood AUSA SubChapter

Meriwether Lewis Chapter

Nisqually Basin AUSA SubChapter

Olympia-Tumwater AUSA SubChapter

Puyallup-Sumner AUSA SubChapter