Georgia State Defense Force Soldiers Serve Up a Win During Community Cook Off

By Sgt. Beverly Shepard and Spc. Frederick Evans

Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Soldiers placed fourth in the “Bring the Heat—Red White & Boots Cook Off,” a locally sponsored contest involving the armed forces, veterans, and public safety community to benefit various local community organizations.

In addition to winning fourth place overall, the GSDF team also placed highest among all other armed services competing in this event. Along with well-earned bragging rights, the team brought home a commemorative certificate celebrating the win.

“There was camaraderie and teamwork, as well as great fun,” said Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Garofola, a member of the GSDF cook off team.

The GSDF winning cook off team members were:

• Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Wilkerson
• Chief Warrant Officer 2 Maurice Holland
• Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Garofola
• Staff Sgt. Larry Ridley
• Spc. David Freydkin

Cobb County’s Marietta Daily Journal featured a front-page photo of the cook off team, as well as an inside page photo of GSDF cook off team member Sgt. 1st Class Garofola. The Real Hero Report also published photographs featuring the GSDF team and GSDF Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick O’Leary. Along with Command Sgt. Maj. O’Leary, GSDF Col. E. H. “Rusty” Hightower and GSDF Col. Edward Sonnenfeld were among others who also attended the event.

A First for the GSDF

Sponsors held the cook off on November 14, 2019—a rainy day where temperatures dipped into the 30s. But the soggy, cold weather didn’t put out the flames for the GSDF team members, who smoked the competition with two barbeque chicken recipes, a “G-4 Hot Hell Sauce” and “Mom’s Favorite BBQ Sauce.”

“It’s always a privilege to work alongside fellow service members and public safety professionals,” said Staff Sgt. Larry Ridley, leader of the GSDF team. “The cook off benefitted the community, which made it even more of a rewarding experience.”

Winners

This year, 17 teams competed in the event, which was held at Jim Miller Pavilion in Marietta, Ga.

The Cobb County Fire Department took home first place and a $1,000.00 award. The second- and third-place winners, the Marietta Fire Department and Metro Ambulance, each received $750.00 cash awards.

The cook off winners were:

1st Place: Cobb County Fire Department

2nd Place: Marietta Fire Department

3rd Place: Metro Ambulance

4th Place: Georgia State Defense Force

5th Place: Georgia Air Guard

6th Place: Marietta Police Department

The GSDF cook off team wins fourth place during the GSDF’s first year of competition.

The cook off generated and donated $32,000.00 to these community organizations: The Marietta Fire Museum Fund, the Marietta Police Explorers, Live Safe Resources, the Kennesaw Public Safety Foundation, and the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation. Also, complimentary tickets valued at $4,500 were donated to Cobb County police/fire/sheriff personnel and Georgia Guard Soldiers and Airmen for them to attend the event.

GSDF cook off team members are featured on the front page of the Marietta Daily Journal.

Photographs courtesy of the Marietta Daily Journal, the Real Hero Report, and GSDF cook off team members