Officials reaffirm communities' commitment to Fort Gordon

Community leaders reaffirmed their support of Fort Gordon's troops by signing the Army Community Covenant on May 7.

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"Where would we be in this country without the strength of our armed services?" North Augusta Mayor Lark Jones said in a meeting with Fort Gordon officials in his law office. "The No. 1 requirement of government ... is to provide for the safety of its citizens."

The covenant states that the community is committed to soldiers and their families, that the strength of soldiers comes from their families and that the strength of families is supported by the community, which includes employers, educators, civic and business leaders and residents.

As a community, the covenant continues, residents are committed to building partnerships with service members.

After Jones signed the poster-size document, the Fort Gordon contingent met with Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver.

"This is so great for us to have a national reputation for the strong partnership.," he said.

Other civic leaders were to sign the document at the Thunder Over Augusta on Saturday at Augusta Common and other downtown sites. Officials from Harlem, Grovetown and Columbia County were scheduled to sign it.

"This is the best community support I've seen in my 26 years in the Army, on any base, without peer," said Col. John Holwick, Fort Gordon's garrison commander.