COVID-19 Heroes: ‘People on the street were clapping and waving’ for MFE
Associates Jan Joson, Marta Morales, Jeremiah Brewer and Siapo Hesson, left to right, helped set up the mobile field Exchange in New York City.
When duty called, the Fort Hamilton and West Point Exchange teams answered. Eight associates volunteered to run a mobile field exchange (MFE) in the Nation’s epicenter of COVID-19.
Fort Hamilton Exchange General Manager Katy Litterer said that when the team received word about the MFE opening in New York City, there was no difficulty in finding associates to operate it.
“We immediately had associates raising their hands asking to be a part of this effort,” said Litterer. “This just underscores the passion they have for supporting service members.”
The request for an MFE in New York City was received April 1, and it departed the Waco Distribution Center the next day. The MFE arrived at Fort Dix on Saturday where Exchange logistics driver Eddie Hill picked it up and drove it to the city.
“It was pretty amazing driving the MFE into the city,” Hill said. “People on the street were clapping and waving. It made me feel proud that I was able to play a part in giving something back to those who are the real heroes.”
“It was pretty amazing driving the MFE into the city,” said Exchange logistics driver Eddie Hill. “People on the street were clapping and waving. It made me feel proud that I was able to play a part in giving something back to those who are the real heroes.”
By Tuesday morning, the store opened at the Army’s field hospital at the Javits Center to support service members and medical personnel on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is serving the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command Soldiers, National Guard members and civilian medical personnel.
The MFE brings comfort and stability for those working to restore a sense of normalcy to the greater public. This marks the first time an MFE has been in New York Superstorm Sandy in 2012. An MFE also supported New York City after 9/11.
forget to add on my previous comment. This story made me proud to be part of the Exchange.
That is so awesome! Loved working the MFE near Boise supporting our troops when they were in training. A lot of hard work but so worth it! It felt good when the soldiers told you how much they appreciated AAFES being there for them. As it said on the AAFES trailer “We go where you go!”
What an inspiration. We go where they go!