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Army National Guard looking to community relationships
By Betse Esparza / Editor
Alpine Independent School District is among those benefiting from the Community Relations program of the Army National Guard.
The Guard is in the area on its mission, as called for by Pres. George W. Bush last summer, to provide assistance to the U.S. Border Patrol until that agency is able to hire and train approximately 6,000 additional agents.
According to National Guard Lt. Mark Gunn, the Community Relations officer for the tri-county area, so far, they've provided Color Guard officers for Marfa, Alpine and Sul Ross football games, and military funerals.
Also, several soldiers provide mentoring for Marfa Middle School fifth and sixth graders on a weekly basis.
Col. Howard Palmer, who works as an assistant principal as a civilian and is coordinating the mission for the Marfa Sector of the Border Patrol, has directed Gunn to look for volunteer opportunities in the area schools, among other things.
Last Saturday, about 15 soldiers removed playground equipment from the AISD Administration Building and re-installed it at Alpine Elementary School at the request of Superintendent Mike Davis.
"We want to focus primarily where there's the greatest need," said Gunn, who added that the Guardsmen in this area were brought here based on their civilian skills.
Gunn has met with several schools. "We told them to give us projects that require manpower," he said. The playground equipment was first on a long list, he said.
"As long as it's within the scope of what we can do, then it's basically a volunteer action on our part," said Gunn.
At Alpine Elementary School, soldiers have replaced benches, painted basketball goals and are working on a xeriscape project.
At the high school, they're working with Industrial Technology (IT) students and on a landscape and design project, as well.
In Marfa, they're installing new handrails at the football stadium and working with the IT students there.
"It's not that we're trying to flood the community with soldiers, we're trying to do the best we can with what we have," said Gunn. "We have time, let us help you. We want to give the teachers some time."
Gunn said proposals for use of the Guard from community organizations must be approved by Col. Palmer.
"Our mission is the priority. If we can do the project, if we can find the guys, if Col. Palmer thought we had the resources and time, we'd do it," he said. "We'll do as much as we can with what we've got."
At the Old Fort Days at Fort Davis National Historic Site this weekend, Guardsmen have volunteered to do a side-by-side comparison with Buffalo Soldiers. They'll also provide Color Guard for the ceremonial flag lowering Saturday evening.
Lt. Gunn received his master's degree from Sul Ross and works as a hydrologist for the Bureau of Land Management in Las Cruces. His wife, Sarah Gunn, is the counselor at AHS. They have two children.
Comments? E-mail editor@alpineavalanche.com
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