PEA RIDGE — After spending the 90-plus degree afternoon at the Pea Ridge National Military Park studying civil war tactics and logistics, the U.S. Army Sustainment Command (ASC), 407th Army Field Support Brigade was invited to a home-cooked meal at the Community Room in Pea Ridge.
“It’s to say we appreciate their service to our country, to show gratitude for them,” Mayor Jackie Crabtree said.
Crabtree, along with pastor Al Fowler of First Baptist Church and volunteers from local churches, welcomed the soldiers with a dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fruit, salad and homemade desserts. Six Pea Ridge churches pitched in to provide the food, including First Baptist Church, Assembly of God, New Life Fellowship, New Prospect Baptist Church, Messiah Lutheran and Pea Ridge Church of the Nazarene. The meat was donated by Tyson’s Chicken.
“They’re not gonna miss their mamas tonight,” said Carol Ash, as she set out pies, cakes, cookies and brownies.
Crabtree said the last time soldiers came to town from Fort Sill, Okla., their bus stopped for lunch at the Pea Ridge McDonald’s and Subway. He saw the soldiers getting off the bus in full uniform and learned they were studying the military park.
“(That’s) what ignited this, I thought it would be nice to do some kind of meal for them,” Crabtree said, adding the Army was surprised by the offer.
“They said ‘you want to do what?’”
Crabtree said he hopes to make this a tradition, and even do a little more in the future.
Pea Ridge Civil War Heritage, Pages 12 on 06/30/2010