The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce held its monthly military relations luncheon on Friday with its featured speaker being retired Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Tony Grinston who was recently appointed the CEO of Army Emergency Reserve.
Grinston served 36 years in the Army before retiring last November. He has ties to the Flint Hills, being stationed on Fort Riley from 2013 to 2015 being apart of the Big Red One Soldiers.
Grinston said he and his family still have many friends in the area and he said he always experienced kindness from people in the community during his time in the Flint Hills.
He spoke a little bit about the organization and says all types of soldiers have been assisted by AER.
He also spoke about how the organization was founded, as it is a non-profit organization that was founded by the former Chief of Staff of the Army.
Grinston has been the group’s new CEO since January. Following Friday’s event, Military relations director Christian Bishop of the Chamber of Commerce provided him and Colonel Sean Ryan with golf balls with “Visit Manhattan” on them.
