US Army Members at Molesworth "Pound" Pavement for British Veterans

  • Published
  • By Melony C. Angelilli, Commander's Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
Royal Air Force Molesworth England --  Members of the US Army Ball Committee at Royal Air Force Molesworth raise money each year to offset the cost of tickets to their annual ball. They sell pancakes, hot dogs and hamburgers and wash lots of cars to keep the ticket price down so all Soldiers have the opportunity to attend. 

"This year was an exceptionally good year for us," said US Army Maj. Jennifer Wabals, Commander Army Element and Senior Watch Officer. "We had a very successful ball and we wanted to give something back to the community we live in." 

Several people around the Molesworth community offer continued support to the US military stationed in the United Kingdom. Mr. Joe Ekins, a British World War II veteran and hero, attends the Army Ball every year to show his support. Mr. Keith Hill, a local artist who specializes in World War II paintings, is a large supporter of Molesworth and has donated a number of prints to the base. 

Wabals asked Ekins and Hill if they could recommend a group the Army Ball Committee could donate to and it was the Northamptonshire Yeomanry Association (NYA). The Northamptonshire Yeomanry, a volunteer yeoman cavalry, was formed in 1794 and could be called on by the king to defend the country against invasion or by the lord lieutenant to subdue any civil disorder within the country. Today members of the World War II era who served in the yeomanry make up the NYA. 

Like the US services, the NYA holds an annual ball for its members. "Not everyone can afford to attend," said Mr. William Hornsey, Honorary Secretary of the NYA. "This donation will ensure a few members who could not go before will be able to go now."
Wabals and the committee look forward to a lasting relationship with the NYA. Some of the Army Ball Committee will attend the NYA Ball on Oct. 3.