Highlights from this week

What a very busy week it's been so far! I haven't had a chance to write since Monday!

Instead of making this a general "what I did" list, how 'bout I just let you know some of the interesting and "must see/do" places around Fort Riley?  


If you are visiting Fort Riley and have the opportunity to drive by the Main Parade Field in the historic part of the Post, there's a very well-planned monument to those killed in Iraq & Afghanistan you will want to see. 

Tuesday was a comprehensive "Moment of Silence" Day to remember the events of 9/11/01. There was a ceremony on Post here at Fort Riley to honor those who have lost their lives as a result of the (ongoing) conflict since 9/11. This week, several more names were added...and one of those names belongs to a soldier of ours who died in May in Afghanistan (I wrote about this HERE and HERE).

Soldiers, Family members and friends of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley gathered Sept. 11 at the post's Global War on Terrorism Monument in front of the U.S. Cavalry Museum for a Patriot Day Commemoration Ceremony. The names of eight Big Red One Soldiers who have died since Sept. 11, 2011, were read during the ceremony. The names of 204 Soldiers who mobilized and deployed through Fort Riley and made the ultimate sacrifice in support of the Global War on Terrorism are now listed on the monument.
- Fort Riley Public Affairs Office (PAO)

Close up of the monument (Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

Ceremonial Wreath (Photo Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

(Photo Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

(Photo Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

Commanding Generals Mounted Color Guard (Photo Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

(Photo Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

(Photo Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

(Photo Credit: Fort Riley PAO)

 

This, and the photos that follow are pictures I took.

Twin Towers

A beautiful tribute to the Fallen

A close-up of 2012 (and our Soldier's name)

Quarters 1 is the name of the most revered home on Fort Riley - it is the home of the Commanding General of Fort Riley (and has been continuously occupied since 1888). 

History of Quarters 1: 
Quarters Number 1 was built in 1887 as the home of the Fort Riley’s commanding officer.  The single family home was constructed at a cost of almost $9,500.  The quarters consist of approximately 8,000 square feet. The first occupant was Colonel (later Major General) James Forsyth.  The third-floor balcony gave him a clear view of his troops drilling on the Cavalry Parade Field. A staircase in the hall is yellow pine detailed with rosewood panels and cherry balusters.  This is the private residence of the current commanding general.  Original features of the commander’s home included a library, sleeping porches, servants’ rooms and a third-floor ballroom. Names of all the occupants of Quarters 1 are listed on a plaque inside.  It includes former Chief of Staff of the Army, General Gordon Sullivan and Major General Thomas Rhame who commanded the 1st Infantry Division during the Gulf War in 1990-91.

This week I spent plenty of time at Quarters 1 - it was fantastic. The Fort Riley spouses' club (I am a member of the Board) hosted a Newcomers Welcome event and our General's wife was kind enough to open her beautiful historic home for the occasion. The ambiance just can not be described! It was a wonderful evening of white linens, crystal chandeliers, candlelight and music as we mingled with the newest arrivals to Fort Riley. Being a new arrival myself (5 months!), I felt a little unqualified to do the "welcoming" but the reality is that 5 months, in Army time, is forever. :)

The beautiful spread!

Remarks from the President of our Club.

If you'd like to see and learn more about Quarters 1, including photos of the home and of our current Commanding General's wife (and her contributions and influence on the show Army Wives), please see this writeup on the Fort Riley website.


It's been a busy week on Post...thankfully, these next few days I can focus on tending the home fires. There's plenty that has been left undone while I've been on the go this week!