Team Exchange Celebrates Army’s 250th Birthday

The Army threw a big bash for its milestone birthday—and the Exchange welcomed partygoers with revelry, relevancy and much-needed relief from the sweltering heat.

Thousands of Americans descended on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on June 14 for the Army 250^th Birthday Festival. Team Exchange rolled in with its showpiece mobile field Exchange, complete with history of the retailer’s We Go Where You Go mission—and air-conditioning, which visitors appreciated on the hot, humid day.

“Being part of the historic birthday celebration demonstrated how the Exchange is fully nested with the Army,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Jose Hernandez, the Exchange’s chief of staff. “Wherever the Army is called to serve, the Exchange stands with Soldiers.”

Fort Belvoir Exchange associates Jennifer Van Puymbrouck, Helen Radenheimer and Robert Graydon shared Exchange relevancy messaging with attendees at the Army’s 250th birthday festival.

Hernandez led tours of the MFE for hundreds of visitors, explaining how stores on wheels have supported Soldiers in war zones and after natural disasters for decades.

“Fellow Soldiers’ eyes lit up as they made their way through the MFE,” Hernandez said. “So many of them remembered the feeling of relief after visiting the Exchange—a saving grace during difficult times.”

Outside the MFE, teammates from the Fort Belvoir Exchange talked with a constant stream of festivalgoers for hours. Helen Radenheimer, sales and merchandise manager; Jennifer Van Puymbrouck, ops manager; and Robert Graydon, sales area manager; shared relevancy information about expanded shopping benefits for Veterans and Common Access Card holders, Veteran and spouse hiring and MILITARY STAR card benefits along with Exchange 130^th anniversary reusable bags, towels and koozies.

“You know wherever your spouse is, there will be an Exchange, said Nancy Cintron, whose husband served for 30 years in the Army. “They can concentrate on their mission and not have to worry about having the things they need.”

Nancy Cintron, whose husband, David, served for 30 years in Army, traveled from Savannah, Georgia, to celebrate the Army’s birthday. She toured the MFE and was thrilled the Exchange was in Washington to remind Americans of its mission.

“The Exchange gives us the capability of knowing that when our Soldiers leave, they are going to get a taste of home,” Cintron said. “This is what’s familiar to them. And when they’re in the far corners of the world, our Army can get that taste of home from the Exchange. There’s no comparison in the civilian sector. No one’s going to support us the way the Exchange supports military families.”

Soldiers learned about the Exchange’s We Go Where You Go mission inside the mobile field Exchange.