Soldiers stationed at Fort Monmouth were joined by their families last week, as area towns came together for a ceremony to show their gratitude to the men and women before the fort closes its doors in 2011.
In recognition of the strength shown by soldiers and their families, Army officials, as well as state and local leaders, came together Sept. 24 in a formal signing of an Army Community Covenant at Eatontown’s Wampum Park.
“Even though Fort Monmouth is closing, we’re committed to providing the very best community support to soldiers and their families for as long as they serve and reside in our community,” Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo said.
“Essentially, it was to confirm our support for the soldiers and the soldiers’ families that are stationed at Fort Monmouth,” he added.
The Army Community Covenant is a commitment between local communities and U.S. Army leadership to foster and develop effective state and community partnerships with the Army to provide soldiers and their families an improved quality of life, both at their current duty stations and as they transfer from state to state.
Signed by Commanding Maj. Gen. Dennis L. Via, Commanding Col. Stephen Christian and Col. Gale Harrington, as well as other area residents and officials, the covenant will provide soldiers and their families with amenities, such as free access to municipal beaches and recreational programs and additional perks that are not typically available to the general public, according to Tarantolo.
Mayors throughout the Fort Monmouth region attended the covenant signing, including the mayors of the fort’s three host towns of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls.
“There were a lot of people,” Tarantolo said. “It was a very nice event. I was very pleased with how it all came out.”
A portion of the covenant reads, “Together, we are committed to building strong communities. We, the community, recognize … the commitment soldiers and their families are making every day.
“The strength of soldiers comes from the strength of their families. The strength of soldiers comes from the strength of their community. The strength of the community comes from the support of employers, educators, civic and business leaders and its citizens.”
It continues, “We, the community, are committed to … building partnerships that support the strength, resilience and readiness of soldiers and their families.”
Scheduled to close in 2011, Fort Monmouth is home to the Army’s Communications-Electronics Command, which provides communications to U.S. soldiers stationed around the world.
Roughly 10,000 jobs are expected to be lost in the area when the fort closes and its operations are moved to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
Contact Daniel Howley at [email protected].