U.S. Army Capt. Caryn Finch-Collier got the opportunity May 25 to walk in the footsteps ? or tire marks ? of auto racing legends.
Dressed in her camouflage fatigues, the Oxford resident proudly marched in a parade honoring military personnel just prior to the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.
Finch-Collier, who serves as company commander of the 645th Regional Support Group based in Southfield, volunteered for the parade to experience the ‘excitement? of race day and the ‘patriotism? of marching with her comrades down pit row inside the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
‘I was pretty impressed,? she said. ‘As we marched in the parade, it was interesting to see how the crowd really applauded the military. They have a postive view of the military now as opposed to back in Vietnam when everything was negative.?
More than 400,000 people attend auto racing’s greatest spectacle every year. This year the soldiers in attendance marched as part of a special military recognition lap.
Finch-Collier has proudly served in the Army for 27 years.
She spent the first eight years on active duty before joining the Reserve. She’s currently on active duty again.
Her present role as company commander is primarily an administrative job involving planning, logistics and lots of paperwork.