FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Fort Bragg’s annual week of fun, competition and remembrance called All-American week started at dawn Monday morning with a bugle call... then a howitzer blast... then a cry of “All the way, Airborne!”

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Then as the sun broke over the trees of the massive base, Major General David Rodriguez, the Commander of Ft. Bragg led 12,000 paratroopers on the four mile division run.

 

“It’s good to see the soldiers singing and running, spirits high, morale high,” said Rodriguez afterwards. “After a year of tremendous sacrifice on the part of the service personnel and their families, this is a week to let loose and have fun.”

 

Soldiers chanted and ran in cadence, with each company running to their own sayings and songs behind their flags. Many companies designed their own t-shirts to stand out.   Families and veterans lined the route cheering soldiers on.

 

"It killed me I can’t be out there, because my heart is so proud watching the guys and the flags,” said Sgt. Quincy Wright, who was wounded in Iraq and can’t run. “But if I can’t give my body at least I can give my support.”

 

All American week was cancelled last year because all four of the 82^nd Airborne’s combat brigades plus its headquarters unit were deployed. This year, all but one brigade is back at the base.

Here is the schedule for All-American Week at Fort Bragg.
                               
Monday, May 19         
6 a.m. - UTC    Division Run    Rock Field Parking lot
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Jump competition        Sicily Drop Zone
8:30 a.m. - UTC Patio Breakfast Pike Field
9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.     Division Review Rehearsal       Pike Field
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Team Assault    Team Assault Course
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Basketball      Funk Physical Fitness Center
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Tug of War      Ritz-Epps Field
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Flag Football   Ritz-Epps Field
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Softball        Ritz-Epps Field
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Soccer  Ritz-Epps Field
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Volleyball      Hoskins Physical Fitness Center
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.        Combative       Tucker Physical Fitness Center
7 p.m. - 10 p.m.        Boxing Smoker   Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness
Center

Tuesday, May 20        
4:30 a.m. - 8 a.m.      10-mile road race       Pike Field
7 a.m. - 8 a.m. Division Prayer Breakfast       CAB DFAC
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Old-Timers Breakfast    DSTB DFAC
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Jump Competition        Sicily Drop Zone
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Basketball      Funk Physical Fitness Center
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Flag Football   Ritz-Epps Field
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Softball        Ritz-Epps Field
1 p.m. - UTC    Memorial Ceremony Rehearsal     Division Museum
1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Team Assault Competition        Division Assault Course
5 p.m. - UTC    Brigade Socials TBD
6 p.m. - UTC    Fayetteville Chapter, 82nd Association No-Host Social
Chapter Clubhouse
6:15 p.m. - 7 p.m.      82nd Band Concert       Ritz-Epps Physical
Fitness Center
7 p.m. - 10 p.m.        Boxing Smoker   Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness
Center

Wednesday, May 21              
9 a.m. - UTC    Division Review Rehearsal       Pike Field
1 p.m. - UTC    Memorial Ceremony Rehearsal     Division Museum
6:30 - UTC      Former Commander's Dinner       82 Capron
4:30 p.m. - UTC Boxing/ Combatives      Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness
Center

Thursday, May 22               
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.   82nd Association Gathering      Pike Field
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.       Division Review Pike Field
12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.     Memorial Ceremony       Division Museum
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.   Old Timers Luncheons    Brigade DFACs
2:30 p.m. 4 p.m.        Museum Open House       82nd Museum
6 p.m. - 1 a.m. Fayetteville Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division
Association, No-Host Social     Fayetteville Chapter Clubhouse

Friday, May 23         
7:30 a.m. - UTC 82nd Airborne Division Association Golf Tournament
Stryker
8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.      BCT Old Timers Breakfast       
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. 82nd Band Concert       Sicily Drop Zone
10:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.     JRTX    Sicily Drop Zone
2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 82nd Association picnic Fayetteville Chapter Clubhouse
7 p.m. - UTC    Jewish Services Faith Chapel

Saturday, May 24               
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PX/Clothing Sales Store Old-Timers      PX/ Clothing
Sales
9 a.m. - UTC    82nd Association Delegates Meeting      Holiday Inn
Bordeaux
5 p.m. - UTC    Catholic Mass   JFK Memorial Chapel
6:30 p.m.  - UTC        Fayetteville Chapter Social     Fayetteville
Chapter Clubhouse

Sunday, May 25         
8 a.m. - UTC    Catholic Mass   Wood Memorial Chapel
8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.     82nd Association Farewell breakfast
Fayetteville Chapter Clubhouse
11 a.m. - UTC   Protestant Worship      Division Memorial Chapel
12:30 p.m. - UTC        Catholic Mass   Division Memorial Chapel