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United Way sets $195,000 goal here
0913UnitedWayLaunch
United Way board members Clemontine Washington, Bobby Ryon, Susan McCorkle, Rene Harwell, David Floyd, Josh Wheeler and Troy Vogel unveil this year’s campaign goal at Thursday’s kickoff party at The Heritage bank. - photo by Phgoto by Patty Leon
The United Way of the Coastal Empire launched its 2009 fundraising campaign Thursday afternoon. The Heritage Bank opened its lobby to host the UWCE Liberty branch kickoff ceremony, where United Way board members unveiled the campaign’s $195,000 goal.
The UWCE, which serves Chatham, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty counties, announced its overall goal of $8.2 million during an earlier gala at the Savannah Civic Center.
Members of the UWCE Liberty board and the community gathered in the bank lobby to participate in a silent auction and enjoy a catered meal.
“This is our kickoff to our campaign to bring in area businesses and the board of the campaign together and get the new campaign started,” said Troy Vogel, logistics group leader at Target and campaign co-chairman for the Liberty United Way branch.
The Liberty branch was created roughly 32 years ago, according to Katherine McCartney, Heritage Bank vice president and Liberty United Way board chairwoman.
During her presentation, McCartney said they currently receive funds from 75 different businesses in Liberty County with 7,000 individuals contributing funds. 
“There are over 30 organizations that we support,” McCartney said. “Some of those organizations are the American Red Cross and ACS on Fort Stewart. We also support the Tri-County Protective Agency, Manna House, Seniors Citizens, Inc., YMCA and many more within the local community.”
Given the volatile economy, McCartney knows meeting this year’s goal will be a challenge.
“But, in my experience, this community has always found a way to give back and although it’s going to be harder to get people to pull out of their pockets and give ... I would be very surprised if we weren’t able to achieve our goal,” she said.
Vogel said there are many ways to contribute. “It depends on the business or where they work at. One way is through automatic payroll deduction through their employer. They can also write a check to the United Way of Coastal Empire.”
“And you can designate which organization you want your money to go to,” said Josh Wheeler, Heritage Bank vice president and campaign co-chairman for the Liberty Branch of the United Way of the Coastal Empire said.
McCartney said participants fill out forms and designated the agencies they want their funds to go to. The funds can be divided between different agencies or allocated in whole to just one.
“However you want those funds to go, we will make sure it gets there,” she said.
Leah Poole has served as executive director of the UWCE Liberty for five years.
Wheeler said employers can contact Poole and set up an appointment to discuss the different options employers and individuals have regarding United Way donations.
Anyone who wants to donate or get more information can call 368-4282, e-mail lpoole@uwce.org or go to the UWCE Web site at www.uwce.org.
Vogel said more events are planned and said this weekend’s ‘Hoofin’ it for Our Heroes’ raised funds for the UWCE and the funds were allocated to the local police, fire departments, the Army community service and the Liberty Regional Foundation.
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3rd ID, Army, allies mourn four soldiers lost in accident
Farewell ceremony set for Thursday morning in Lithuanian capital
four soldiers

The four U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania have been identified.  

The Army has confirmed the four soldiers who died when their vehicle sank into a bog as Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, 25, Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez, 25, PFC Dante Taitano, 21, and Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, 28.

"First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies - and our own sailors, airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers - have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends.” 

The four soldiers, who were the crew of a M88A2 armored recovery vehicle, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25. Their vehicle eventually was found March 26 but it was beneath approximately 14 feet of water and sunk into more than six feet of mud.

Crews worked to drain the area around the vehicle to make it stable for heavy equipment needed to pull out the M88. U.S. Navy divers were flown in and attached cables to hoist points so the submerged vehicle could be lifted out of the bog.

"This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd ID commanding general. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.” 

Knutson-Collins, Duenez Jr., and Franco were all posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.

Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with over seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2018 and was assigned to 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion.

Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course. He deployed to Korea in 2020.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Master Technician Badge.

“Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit,” said Capt. Jackson Patillo, commander, Foxtrot Company, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion. “Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member to our entire Fox family that we will truly miss.”

“The pain we feel from this loss is insurmountable,” said Lt. Col. Erick Buckner, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion commander. “Staff Sgt. Knutson-Collins was well loved throughout our unit and a brother to all. He was an expert, an incredibly talented mechanic and a warrior. We will never forget his dedication to his unit, his family and his country.”

“We are incredibly relieved that we were able to bring this recovery to an end and bring closure to all the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, who also grew up on Fort Stewart. “We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially the Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission. Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade.” 

Throughout the seven-day recovery effort, the combined and joint team worked day and night to find the soldiers. 

“As the fourth and final soldier has been recovered from this tragic accident, we will continue to mourn their loss as we work to quickly return our Dog Face Soldiers home to their families,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps and former Fort Stewart and 3rd ID commanding general. “It has been truly amazing and very humbling to watch the incredible recovery team from different commands, countries and continents come together and give everything to recover our Soldiers. Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful.” 

All four soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to provide credible ground deterrence alongside Allies and partners, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart. 

“I'm immensely proud of our entire team. They have been relentless in their efforts to search and recover our soldiers and get every capability and asset necessary to enable this effort,” Gen. Donahue said. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also posted on X his sorrow at the loss of the four soldiers.

“I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen soldiers,” he wrote. “Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave servicemembers who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them. The recovery was conducted with urgency, resolve and deep respect for the fallen. We will never forget these soldiers — and our prayers are with their families.”

A farewell ceremony for the soldiers will be held Thursday morning in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

“Every soldier is also a Lithuanian soldier, and their families’ pain is our pain,” said a statement from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. Army is investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

"We continue to stand by the families and loved ones through this incredibly difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Norrie. “Now, it’s time to bring them home.” 

 

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