1ID Deputy Commanding General Speaks at Monthly MAC Breakfast

The First Infantry Division at Fort Riley is celebrating 100 years as “The Fighting First” and Brigadier General Patrick Frank wants the community to celebrate with them.

“This 100th year anniversary of course showcases the Division and all it’s done since 1917; when you see our combat tradition, what we have done in combat for the nation, being on point – what our soldiers do each and every day in the 1st Infantry Division, it has the entire Division excited to honor those that came before us, those that are currently in our formation, our families and to celebrate that with the Flint Hills community,” said Frank.

Major General Wayne Grigsby Jr., Brigadier General Patrick Frank, Brigadier General William Turner, Command Sergeant Major Joseph Cornelison

Frank was the speaker during a Thursday morning Military Affairs Council (MAC) Breakfast where he boasted about the excitement surrounding the 100th anniversary of the Big Red One and the storied history behind the nation’s “Fighting First”.

“We take great pride in that, we’ve been the first in to World War I, World War II, Vietnam, [the] first back in to Iraq; we are a Division that wins at everything that it does and our soldiers truly believe that right down to the core and you can see that each and every day at Fort Riley, so it’s really special to the 1st Infantry Division,” said Frank.

A major strength in the Division, a division that Frank likes to affectionately say belongs to the community, is the strength of the surrounding region and it’s support of the army.

“We want the community in the Flint Hills to come out and to enjoy these ceremonies that surround the Division’s history with our soldiers because we are a part of your communities…to have the Flint Hills as a part of this 100 year celebration is very important to us,” said Frank.

On October 19th there will be a Deployment Ceremony for the Division, and members of the Division will take part in the Veterans Day parade in Manhattan in November.

The next year will be filled with events celebrating and highlighting the 1st Infantry Division, with a 100th Anniversary Celebration on June 8, 2017 and Victory Week 2017 the third week in August.