COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Hundreds of Fort Carson soldiers with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division bundled up Friday morning and headed out in the cold, to walk from Dorchester Park to the Marian House.
It was all part of "Operation Happy Holidays."
The troops walked along Fountain Creek carrying with them clothing, and cold weather gear they collected.
The items were then donated to the Marian House for low-income families, and the homeless.
"This is our opportunity to come back and do something for the people of the United States," Maj. Steven Janko said.
With their field packs loaded down with clothes and gifts, the troops walked several miles to the Marian House, where they were greeted by cheers and clapping.
The soldiers unloaded enough coats, hats, gloves and gifts to fill several tables.
Officials with the Marian House said the troops' service and sacrifice, both on and off the battlefield, is amazing.
"The donation of supplies and winter clothes is the largest we have gotten this year and probably for a long time, so it is going to go a long way to help the people of our community," Mark Rohlena, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, said.
All of the soldiers who participated in the walk volunteered to do so.
They said it is s a good feeling to give back to the community that supports them when they are away.
"They spent a year over in Afghanistan giving back to another country, and I think it means that much more to them to come back here and give to the Colorado Springs community," Col. Joel Tyler said.
"Operation Happy Holidays" was launched in 2009 but was put on hold last year while the brigade was deployed in Afghanistan.
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