FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- More than 17,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division kicked off the All American Week celebrations on Fort Bragg.

  • This year marks the 29th year of All American Week and the 101st year of the Division’s service.
  • Planned competitions include a fun run, boxing tournament, 10 mile road race, marksmanship tournament and color guard competition.
  • Scheduled athletic tournaments include flag football, softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and tug-of-war.

As is tradition, paratroopers past and present started off the annual week of celebrations with a four-mile run on post Monday morning.

It celebrates the 82nd Airborne Division’s heritage by bringing together current paratroopers and veterans some of whom served on Fort Bragg decades ago.

Family members and spouses lined the streets to cheer them on.

The run is just the first event of many this week.

On Wednesday, the division will host its annual memorial, honoring troops who have died in the past year.

The finale of All American Week will be an airborne operation onto the Sicily Drop Zone, which is scheduled for May 24.

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