By Robert Johnson
Managing editor

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If you needed a reason to like the Army’s birthday celebration on Fort Leonard Wood, the post delivered 10,000 of them, and then some.

In the early morning hours of June 14, roughly 10,000 Soldiers, along with members from the other services, took to the streets for some physical training in honor of our nation’s Army. And while the running pace was on the low end of the scale for some people, enthusiasm, spirit and professionalism pegged the high side of the meter.

But the birthday was much more than just a good morning workout.

For one Soldier, 17-year-old Pvt. Kimyona Warren, the day will be forever engrained in her memory as she was honored to cut the Army’s birthday cake at the 43rd Adjutant General Battalion’s dining facility after just one hour in the uniform.

Across post, another cake was sliced in honor of the Army’s birthday with 60 years separating the youngest from the oldest in the traditional birthday ceremony for Army civilians and Soldiers.

The day concluded with a retreat ceremony worthy of the commander-in-chief. A campaign streamer was added to the Army’s colors in fitting honor of the day.

And that was just the start of the last seven days.

While the Army was celebrating its birthday, the Corps of Engineers was also celebrating its own history.

The engineers ran 237 miles with their corps colors as part of several events to commemorate a lineage dating back to the first Continental Congress. Fittingly, the engineers remembered their fallen comrades with a wreath laying ceremony to close out their week.

On Friday the Garrison Command welcomed a new commander and said good-bye to an old friend. Col. Charles Williams commanded the garrison for more than three years. His replacement, Col. William Pfeffer, took command Friday morning in Nutter Field House.

Not to be outdone by celebrations, the Marine Corps Detachment hosted the Volkslauf — an extreme run for those with no aversions to mud. The event challenged hundreds of runners and teams, to include one of the GUIDON’s own, Debbie Austin.

Meanwhile to the southwest, the Springfield Cardinals were hosting an event of their own in celebration of the Armed Forces. Military Appreciation Night was well received and a good evening of baseball for those in attendance.

With barely a day of rest, the this week continued with the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Warrior Competition kicking off on Monday, along with the U.S. Army Chemical Regiment Week.

Toss in a visit from Sesame Street’s Elmo, Grover and Cookie Monster and you can see that it’s been one very exciting, busy seven days.

And we wouldn’t want it any other way — all 10,000 plus of us.