By Cheri Dragos-Pritchard
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Little Rock Air Force Base is set to celebrate Month of the Military Family from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday at the Warfit Pavilion here.
November is designated by presidential proclamation as Month of the Military Family to honor the commitment and sacrifices made by the families of our Nation’s service members.
“This event is for the families,” said Sharon Thompson, Airmen and Family Readiness Center chief. “Handing out fliers doesn’t make an event successful, participation does. We want all families to attend, especially the families who are new to this life style. We want to help connect them to others who know what it’s about and make them feel welcome. Most of all, we want all family members to know they are appreciated.”
Master Sgt. Kimberly Euton, A&FRC readiness noncommissioned officer, is the event coordinator and has organized several activities for the day.
“The theme of the event is, The Military Family Showcased – Little Rock Style,” Euton said. “It features games and activities designed to show the strength and diversity of our military families.”
Euton went on to mention some of the prizes participants can possibly win. There will be $500, $300 and $100 Visa gift cards given away as well as trophies. She said participants must be present to win.
Events include:
Dating Game for Couples
Good Times-In It to Win It
Ultimate Fitness Challenge
Trivia Pursuit Scavenger Hunt
Littlest Warrior Pageant (Pre-registration required)
We’ve Got Talent Contest (Pre-registration required)
Holiday Arts and Crafts
Static Displays
Child Seat Safety Clinic
Extreme Basketball/Weight Lifting
FREE Lunch /Refreshments
Live Radio Broadcast
This event also benefits homebound and disabled Veterans. Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items (i.e., cans of corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes) with them to donate upon arrival at the event. The donations will be used to cook a Thanksgiving meal for local homebound and disabled Veterans.
The Saturday event is one small piece to a larger celebration for military families. The 2013 proclamation for the observance says, “Throughout our Nation’s history, an unbroken chain of patriots has strengthened us in times of peace and defended us in times of war. Yet the courageous men and women of the United States military do not serve alone. Standing alongside them are husbands and wives, parents and children, sisters and brothers. During Military Family Month, we celebrate the families who make daily sacrifices to keep our Nation whole, and we remember a most sacred obligation -- to serve them as well as they serve us.”
Col. Patrick Rhatigan, 19th Airlift Wing and installation commander, supports the event to celebrate families and reflected the intent of the proclamation in the Nov. 4 edition of the Herk Call newsletter.
“No two families are exactly alike, but we each have someone who loved us and sacrificed to raise us,” said Rhatigan. “We owe much to our families — the ones we come from, and, for many of us, the ones we’re raising now. We perform at our best when our families are taken care of, so it’s appropriate we recognize those who support us every day.”
For more information on the event, contact the A&FRC at 501-987-6801.
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