4-H Military Day Stimulates Minds and Simulates Experiences

"Miss Shea, Miss Shea this is so cool! Thank you!" From the time we walked into the Golden Knights Museum at Fort Bragg we heard gasps, wows, thank yous and enjoyed the wide eyes of our youth as they learned about this elite team that flies through the air. Joel Rowley, a retired Golden Knight, and now a civilian working with the group as their Visual Information Specialist, was our host for this incredibly informative morning event. The youth also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Captain Michael Funderburk who is with the Operations section of the Golden Knights. The youth learned about the 50 year history of the Golden Knights, watched movies showing their different parachute teams, learned about the dangers and training involved, and asked some really cool questions about what they do. Rowley was even kind enough to randomly pick one youth from the audience and dress him in all the gear they wear and showed them how they deploy a parachute and all the safety measures that are involved, including a computer that will deploy the chute at a certain altitude in case something has happened and the jumper is unable to. For all their questions each of the youth walked out wearing a variety of pins from the Golden Knights and received other items like calendars and key chains which they were able to take home with them. Chandler Miller then presented Mr Rowley with an official 4-H Centennial pin to thank him for hospitality and sharing his knowledge with us. I have to say this was probably a field trip where the adults learned as much as our youth and that makes for an incredibly wonderful day!
After our fun filled informative morning we travelled to lunch at the Golden Corral and then to the Airborne Special Operations Museum in Downtown Fayetteville. While there we saw a movie about the 82nd Airborne and everyone had a chance to tour the museum. One group even had a retired Marine who volunteers at the museum walk and talk with the youth and tell them all the real stories behind the weapons, aircraft and scenes that they saw. Of course the trip would not have been complete without a trip to the simulator. There the youth had the opportunity to feel what it is like to ride a motorcycle, ride in a Humvee, ride on a jeep, jump from a plane and skydive, ride in a helicopter and more. For many the experience was overwhelming and when we came back they couldn't wait to share all the different things they learned with each other. Most importantly they learned a little more about the history of our military, what it takes to become a member of the military, and the important job they do.