Junction City community members and participants in the Adopt A Soldier program gathered on Saturday at the C.L. Hoover Opera House to celebrate the Adopt a Soldier program that has matched local host families with Soldiers that are new to the U.S. Army and Fort RIley.

According to the local founder of the program, Phyllis Fitzgerald, 110 Soldiers have been matched in the program with 50 host families. She stated the intent is to match a new Soldier with a family willing to spend some time with them. “Maybe be a mentor, or friend, maybe get them outside the gates of Fort Riley, get them in our community, get them involved.”

Fitzgerald noted the program involves families not only in Junction City and Geary County but in other communities in the Flint Hills.

Senator Jerry Moran attended the event on Saturday. He said it’s inspiring. ” It’s nothing that is a surprise to me about Junction City and about the Flint Hills, nothing that is a surprise about Kansans. But this community in particular has always greeted the Soldiers at Fort Riley with open arms, with love and care and compassion.” After hearing the stories and experiences told by Soldiers and families in the program Moran noted, It’s always inspiring to hear how good people are.”

There were multiple stories about how often the Soldiers and families form long-term friendships through the Adopt a Soldier program.