Nearly 1,000 people gathered at Fort Riley Wednesday to strengthen the bond between the community and the Army.

Government and military leaders signed the Army Community Covenant which is designed to strengthen the partnerships between the Army and the community when dealing with things like state to state transfers, education and jobs.

“By this covenant we are saying to the Army and more specifically to the soldiers, we got your back,” said U.S. Senator Sam Brownback. “We’re saying and signing what’s in our hearts. The commitment to you that we will be there for you through thick and thin.”

“Community is what lets our military sleep well at night because it allows them to do their jobs without worrying whether their families are being taken care of,” U.S. Senator Pat Roberts said.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius U.S. Representatives Jerry Moran and Nancy Boyda also signed the covenant along with several military leaders including the secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, who says with the conflicts overseas, soldiers now need this covenant the most.

“This is the new normal and as we ask more soldiers and their families, as citizens we have to ask more of ourselves to step up and help those soldiers and their families,” Geren said. “Americans appreciate what soldiers are doing and we are inviting them to continue to do what they have been doing but look to ways they can do more.”

“You have our commitment that we want to find ways to amplify our strong working relationship with Fort Riley and continue to be a leader in the country to find new ways to support our troops and the needs of our nations soldiers and families,” said Governor Sebelius.

Seven covenants were signed Wednesday to represent the surrounding counties of Fort Riley.

The Army-wide signing of the covenants started in April and will be signed in other communities across the country through December.