SFC Hamilton McWhorter
U.S. Army Garrison Benelux
Dom in Cologne, Germany

we care

Be featured here! E-mail us your thumbs-up pictures from around Europe.

USAG Benelux is launching a new campaign and its focus is you.

For years, Servicemembers have used the symbol of a thumbs-up to break through language barriers on foreign lands. During World War II, American GIs spread the sign of peace and unity throughout Europe as they marched toward Berlin.

At the Benelux, the thumbs-up symbolizes the five strategic communication messages recently approved by the commander:

We Are Partners
According to the Benelux mission statement, the garrisons provide base operations for joint military and interagency communities to support U.S. interest in NATO. These operations, over a seven-nation footprint, are possible because of the partnerships with other U.S. branches and military allies.

We Are Good Neighbors
For decades, U.S. Servicemen and women have worked alongside their European Allies—in peacetime and in war. The relationships that have been built within the Schinnen, Brussels and Chièvres communities expand from day-to-day base operations to casual encounters among neighbors, living in the villages off post.

We Are Here to Stay
With millions of dollars of new infrastructure—like the new lodging, commissary and training area at Chièvres or the new playground at Brussels—USAG Benelux continues to grow, further enabling its allied forces to fulfill their strategic missions.

We Need You
One of the greatest resources at the Benelux is its people—from host nation employees who bring decades of local experience to fresh, experienced military and civilian employees and the families who give so much to their on- and off-post communities.

We Care
All of that rolled up into one overarching message is a big thumbs-up, symbolizing WE CARE. We care about mission readiness, family readiness, warriors in transition, the Army Family Covenant, veterans and retirees, our partners, our neighbors.

BE A PART OF IT

The We Care Campaign is being launched through a variety of media, and this is where you come in.

• First, notice the ads in this issue of the Edge. The Benelux Public Affairs Office is looking for stellar Soldiers, Civilians and Family Members who represent one of the communications messages. Nominations can be made by emailing dlima-e-beneluxpao@eur.army.mil
  
  
• Second, grab your camera and your thumbs-up and capture your experiences in Europe. Email your pictures along with full names, location and date to dlima-e-beneluxpao@eur.army.mil Select pictures will be printed in the Edge and your local garrison publications.
  

And coming soon is a We Care Web site through USAG Benelux homepage. Pictures, ads, videos and more will be posted online through the interactive site.