Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and members of Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed to Poland. | Kevin Schmid/Unsplash
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and members of Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed to Poland. | Kevin Schmid/Unsplash
Deployments always mean some disruption to the lives of the soldiers who are sent to serve in various locations around the world, but this year’s duties supporting Ukraine are also affecting the Fort Bragg community as a whole by causing authorities to postpone “All-American Week.”
The 82nd Airborne Division typically takes a week in May to celebrate their service with their families and the public. This year, the festival has been delayed until September.
"All American Week is one of the proudest traditions of this division,” Maj. Gen. Christoper LaNeve, commanding general of the 82nd Airborne, told ABC 11 News. “For this reason, we are postponing to ensure that everyone can be together for this exciting week of activities, camaraderie and reflection on the sacrifices of our paratroopers and contributions of this great division to the nation.”
The event is open to the public and includes sporting competitions, ceremonies and memorials. But this year, with thousands of the 82nd Airborne deployed in Poland supporting NATO allies against Russian aggression, it doesn’t make sense to have the celebrations this month.
ABC 11 News reports that the celebration has tentatively been set for late in September.
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