PV2 Cody Peckham waded into a briar patch and carefully began to remove branch after branch of the thick vegetation.

"It's not every day you see yourself making a difference," the Soldier, who serves with the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), said during a short break Saturday at Leach Creek Park in University Place. "We're here making a difference, which will help others out."

Joining Peckham were 20 other Soldiers assigned to the brigade. 

Their efforts coincided with the 21stanniversary of Make a Difference Day, the nation's largest volunteer day. Millions of Americans united to make a difference in their communities. 

"It's good to be here," Pfc. Jarrod Misner added.  "Good things come around when you help others."

The event is sponsored by Gannett's USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with Points of Light's HandsOn Network, the country's largest mobilizer of volunteers.

"Voluntary service is at the core of who we are as Americans," Michelle Nunn, CEO, Point of Light, said in a news release.  "It is our nature to help our neighbors in times of struggle to work together to establish a more perfect union."

The idea of working together in tough times is not lost on the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) community. JBLM volunteers supported several projects, both on and off base, to include six local community projects.

"The city of University Place contacted us about giving them a hand today in beginning to clear this park," Capt. John Hlavaty, the 16th CAB's information officer, said. 

He went on to say that during deployments, he had received care packages from individuals and organizations he did not know or recognize. "I got these gifts from people who did not know me but cared about me.  What we are doing today is a chance to give back in the spirit the care packages were sent to me and other Soldiers."

The brigade's volunteers spent last Saturday working at University Place's Leach Creek Park. Purchased for $750,000, the city's newest park consists of 15 acres of land - six of which is upland and the remaining nine wetlands.

There is a great deal of work to be done.

"We're facing some tough economic times," Steve Johnson, a University Place Parks and Recreation commissioner, explained as he walked around talking with Soldiers.  "By partnering with Joint Base Lewis-McChord and these wonderful Soldiers, we're able to control costs and work toward the creation of a wonderful park."

To Sgt. Joe Knaack, the commissioner's words rang true.

"We all volunteered to come out and work today in the rain," he said.  "We make an impact in other countries, but now we get the chance to make a difference here in this country, to show the other side of the Army."