Olympians to visit White House, Pentagon, Walter Reed
By Paula J. Randall
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Accessions Support Brigade
FORT BENNING, Ga. – The six 2008 Olympians of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, along with other Army Olympians, will visit Washington, D.C., next week where they will meet with many senior officials including the president of the United States.
USAMU Olympians Maj. Michael E. Anti, Sgt. 1st Class Jason A. Parker, Sgt. 1st Class Daryl L. Szarenski, Spc. Jeffrey G. Holguin, and Gold Medalists Spc. Walton Glenn Eller III and Spc. Vincent C. Hancock will leave Columbus Oct. 5 and fly to Washington, D.C., where they will be joined by Olympic wrestler Staff Sgt. Dremiel Byers, Olympic shooters Army Reservist Staff Sgt. Elizabeth A. “Libby” Callahan and Staff Sgt. Keith A. Sanderson and Olympic Rifle Coach Maj. David A. Johnson.
Oct. 6, the Olympians will visit the Pentagon and meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. They are scheduled to have lunch with injured service members at the National Navy Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
That evening the Olympians will join with the other U.S. Olympic Team members for a reception at the Baltimore Hilton. The Olympians, along with the Olympic Team, will meet with President George W. Bush Oct. 7 at the White House. Eller and Hancock are tentatively scheduled to meet with Vice President Richard B. “Dick” Cheney and then visit Watkins Elementary School.
Oct. 8, the Army Olympians will attend the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and meet with Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli and Lt. Gen. Robert Wilson, commanding general of the Army Installation Management Command and IMCOM’s Command Sergeant Major John M. Gaines Jr.
The Olympians are scheduled to meet with Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England at the Pentagon Oct. 9, where they will also meet with Secretary of the Army Pete Gerend, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Director of the Army Staff Lt. Gen. David Huntoon Jr. and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston.
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Raise the standard of marksmanship proficiency and combat readiness throughout the Army by sharing knowledge gained from competing and winning in national/ international competitions, research and development and advanced training programs while enhancing the Army's recruiting effort through an active public information and public relations program.
FORT BENNING, Ga. – The six 2008 Olympians of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, along with other Army Olympians, will visit Washington, D.C., next week where they will meet with many senior officials including the president of the United States.