Grissom to celebrate families with appreciation day

Published May 20, 2013
By Senior Airman Jami K. Lancette
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Fun is just around the corner as Grissom is once again gearing up for Family Appreciation Day.

Grissom's annual event will be held here June 1 and will feature a wide variety of food and activities for all ages.

"As Airmen, we have two families; our home family and our military family," Tech. Sgt. Soyica Stanfield, Grissom Airman and Family Readiness Center technician. "Family Day allows us to integrate the two, so our home families can see why we enlist, why we have to leave sometimes and why we do what we do."

"It's so they can feel like they're part of our bigger family," Stanfield added.

Family Appreciation Day will kick off this year with a 5K fun run at 10 a.m. with the rest of the appreciation day starting at 11 a.m., including a picnic-style lunch for people outside Grissom's dining facility.

To add to the festivities, base personnel and their families will be able to go head-to-head in fun competitions.

"Throughout the day there will be competitions among the groups," said Jill Marconi, Grissom A&FR director. "We are also encouraging military members to include their spouses to be on their team in order to participate."

The competitive events start off with the group commanders leading the way in a wacky tricycle race outside of Chocks. Other competitions include one pitch softball, tug-of-war, a pie eating contest and more.

"At the end we're going to award the commanders trophy to the group with the most points at the end of the events," Marconi explained.

Even though there is fun for all, the festivities are primarily focused on families, and so many activities are geared toward children, said Marconi.

For the children there will be a kid's zone with a wide variety of activities for children of all ages including horse rides, face painting, scavenger hunts and more.

There will also be events geared more for adults such as a motorcycle and antique car and truck show. Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders will also be in attendance, signing autographs during a meet and greet session.

And, in the center of it all, whole families will be able to enjoy a KC-135R Stratotanker static display they can tour as they learn more about the 434th Air Refueling Wing and aerial refueling.

Even with all the activities, Stanfield reiterated the day is much more than fun and games.

"We do more than entertain," she added. "We give our family a sense of pride, safety and relationship so they will know the family we have here will support and sustain us just like the one we have back home."

To add to that whole family focus, the Grissom A&FR Center will open up their Wellness Center in Bldg. 431 for families on Sunday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.

"We will have the training room available for activities, movies and popcorn, a spouses forum that will be full of information, and a few great stress reducing activities just to name a few things we will have available for family members," explained Marconi.

For questions about Grissom's Family Appreciation Day or other services provided to military families, contact Marconi at (765) 688-4812.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen routinely deploy from the 434th ARW in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.

News Search

Grissom to celebrate families with appreciation day

Grissom to celebrate families with appreciation day

Public Affairs Staff