GMU "Patriots" and Fans honar Gulf War Veterans - Brief Article

FAIRFAX, Va. (Feb. 10, 2001)-George Mason University, the City of Fairfax, Virginia and the Army Reserve all teamed up recently to honor veterans of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The venue for this special evening was the University's Patriot Center, a hub of community activities as well as the home to the University's basketball team.

"Army Reserve Night" was organized, with the cooperation of the University's events and athletics departments and Sgt 1st Class Troy Falardeau, the National Exhibit program Manager for the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve Public Affairs and Liaison Directorate (OCAR-PALD). He met with events and athletics officials at the school and coordinated the evening with assistance from Task Force Ten, the team coordinating all Desert Shield/Storm events and activities for the Army Reserve. Together they transformed what would other-wise be just another night for soldiers to see a ball game into a highlight of the National Capital Region's observance - "Ten Years the Storm."

Falardeau and the Task Force worked hard to make the night a special night for the entire Army family, not just the Army Reserve. The University provided a block of tickets for this Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) event and the tickets were distributed to Army Reservists living within the area, Reserve units, recruiting commands, veteran's groups, ROTC detachments, the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and the National Guard Bureau Distinguished veterans from the U.S. Soldiers and Airmen's Home were also special guests for the evening.

Volunteers distributing yel-ribbons, Reserve information and literature wore tan tee shirts with the wording "Army Reserve Soldiers Are PATRIOTS!" Other volunteers were at the doors handing out copies of Army Reserve Magazine and entry forms for a halftime contest song contest entitled "Sounds of Desert Storm."

The presence of George Evans, a Desert Storm veteran and the starting forward for GMU's basketball team, added to the evening's excitement. An Army Reservist from Portsmouth, Va., Evans drew media attention the week prior to the game when he was profiled by USA TODAY.

While Evans did not want to talk much about his Gulf War experiences, he did talk about how he felt about the Army -- and teamwork stressing that like basketball, the Army is based upon teamwork.

"Everyone has a story," he said, "Mine isn't any better than theirs."

Representing the Chief, Army Reserve during the pregame ceremony was Brig. Gen. Michael Beasley, who serves as Deputy Commanding General of the Army's Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Beasley, an attorney working in the Fairfax area, felt it was a grand honor to stand-in for the Chief.

Dressed in the original "chocolate chip" uniform many soldiers wore ten years ago during the conflict, Beasley presented special plaques to Dr. Alan Merten, George Mason University President and to J. Chapman (Chap) Petersen, representing the City of Fairfax for their support of the Army Reserve and Reservists throughout the years. He also presented special Tenth Anniversary mementos to Evans and Capt. Nancy Shaw, a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).

Shaw is currently the assistant professor of Information Systems at GMU's School of Management. She served in the Central Command during Desert Storm at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.

"When you talk about the Gulf War, most of the students don't know much about it, they don't remember it," said Shaw. "It was a very difficult time for us with lots of coffee and little sleep."

Beasley then addressed the audience of more than 4,000 and asked them not to forget the service and sacrifices of those men and women who served during Desert Shield and Storm, as well as those men and women who are currently stationed around the world.

"Let us always remember those veterans and members of the Army Reserve who did not return from Desert Storm." Brig. Gen. Beasley added.

With a color guard backdrop provided by the 99th Regional Support Command, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Whitfield from OCAR's Comptroller and Financial Management Directorate sang the National Anthem to start the game.

Undoubtedly, the star of the evening was George. Evans -- a communications major, star basketball player and Gulf War veteran.

"George has meant so much to this school. He's confident and proud of his time in the Army," said Merten, who was an Air Force aide during the Johnson Administration in the 60's.

The George Mason Patriots beat William and Mary by 22 points, with Evans scoring 23 points (so far his season high). For the season, Evans is among the. Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) leaders with 18.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest, a 59.1 shooting percentage from the' field, 23 blocked shots and 32 steals. For his career, he ranks first in George Mason. history with 191 blocked shots, second with 193 steals, third with 1,681 points', fifth with 861 rebounds and 17th with 193-assists.

Sgt. Jorge E. Restrepo, 214th. Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, contributed to this story. Maj. Walton was a member of Task Force Ten, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, at the time this article was written.

COPYRIGHT 2001 U.S. Army Reserve
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