Simonelli says …

Col. Joseph A. Simonelli Jr., Garrison Commander

Col. Joseph A. Simonelli Jr.,
Garrison Commander:

Hello, Team Bliss!

I normally talk about our IMCOM heroes at Fort Bliss, but there are many organizations that do not belong to Garrison Command, but have a huge impact on our community.  Our housing partner, Balfour Beatty Communities, is one of those organizations.  They have heroes too and we want to acknowledge them because to me and Team Bliss, they are real, no-kidding heroes. I’d like to recognize four of them.

This past Friday, Barry Vazquez and Rudy Villamil, two Balfour Beatty Communities maintenance technicians, were servicing a routine maintenance request at a Fort Bliss home.

While working on the resident’s water heater, Barry and Rudy were about to notify the resident they were about to turn off the water; however, the resident’s door was open but there was no response.

Barry and Rudy found the resident unconscious and immediately called 911.

Though help arrived from William Beaumont Army Medical Center (whom I consider heroes in their own right), two others, maintenance supervisor Joe Alvarado and neighborhood manager Kent Davis made sure the servicemember was contacted and stayed to take care of the children at the residence. I’m also happy to report the woman is better and back at home.

Well, St. Patrick’s Day is almost upon us. While the holiday has its roots in Irish-Catholic religion, most of you will undoubtedly celebrate it in a cultural context this Friday. And for many of you, this means letting the Irish out of you and maybe even celebrating with some green beer. Let’s be honest, many people use the holiday as an excuse to drink with friends.

While I won’t use this column to condemn drinking – responsibly – there’s simply no reason to let yourself lose control. Both Soldiers and civilians, let’s exercise caution this weekend. Of course, we all know that drinking and driving is dangerous for everyone on the road. There is no excuse for it. All this should apply to spring break too. Most people probably don’t have the time in their busy schedules to take off for a week of fun, but in case you do, please consider what I have to say in this column.

Safety should be the biggest motivator to celebrate responsibly. But don’t forget another incentive not to drink and drive: The police will be out in force. There’s a poignant poster next to this column. It shows two hands with festively painted nails and green sleeves. The hands are in cuffs and the police are taking prints. “That little touch of green won’t get you out of this” is at the top of the poster. That’ll ruin your weekend. It’s something to think about.

Moving on, I hope you participate in the 2012 Spring Cleanup from March 26 through 30. Balfour Beatty Communities will be participating. For residents who sign up for the cleanup, BBC will be giving out rocks and grass seed to beautify your own spaces of Fort Bliss. To participate and become eligible, send your name, number and address by Wednesday at noon to guarantee delivery and pickup, to Jazmin Rocha, LifeWorks coordinator, at jrocha@bbcgrp.com.

The amount of rock is based on square foot per home and each home will receive a one-gallon bag of grass seed, which covers about 1,000 square feet. If you miss the deadline, BBC will have a limited supply on hand on a first-come, first-served basis.

There’s always a lot more happening at Fort Bliss, but that’s all I have room for this week. To get more involved with garrison activities and concerns, search COL Joe Wants to Know on Facebook and join the discussion.

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