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Community members enjoy free food, games at JB MDL picnic

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Antony S. Lee
  • 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The annual Family Fun Fest and Installation Picnic drew thousands through the course of the day from the JB MDL community to John Mann Park Aug. 22, 2013, to enjoy free food and fun.

The sun shined long enough for kids of all ages to enjoy the various activities and attractions at the event. Some jumped in the bounce houses, others drove go-karts or took horse-drawn carriage rides and many even found the courage to climb the climbing walls.

Scott Benford, a retired Soldier and former mine resistant ambush protected vehicle egress trainer instructor, came to the event from Pemberton, N.J., with his wife and two grandchildren.

"This event here tops all other summer events in the area," he said, mentioning that he had been to many summer events in the area.

This year's event was unique because it was the first time the annual picnic and Family Fun Fest -- two separate events in the past -- were combined into one event.

"It's a joint base picnic just to say thank you to everyone," said Mary Ann Fleck, 87th Force Support Squadron event volunteer and organizer.

Marianne Tatcher, 87th FSS lead organizer of the event, estimated more than 3,000 were in attendance.

"We have activities here for everyone," she said, adding that the car show, batting cages and interactive games for the children -- led by the DJ -- were just a few of the activities the people could enjoy. "The picnic is for the military and all their family members. Everything is free."

Barry Mattson, 817th Global Mobility Squadron C-5 Galaxy loadmaster, came with his wife and daughter after driving by the park and seeing organizers set up for the event during the past couple of days. He wanted to get his daughter -- who is turning two next month -- out to enjoy the activities, he said as he and his wife watched her tumble around in a bounce house.

Others, including Benford, saw event advertisements for weeks.

"There were advertisements all over the base, and it had been canceled twice, so we were really excited that they followed through with it," Benford said.

Benford came to the event prepared to spend the day with his grandchildren. He brought a chair to sit on as he waited for his two grandchildren to finish at various attractions. He joked that he tried to get his grandchildren to eat before going on the rides, but that they were having none of it: "They were like, 'We're not hungry, we want to play.' "

When the popular dance song "Cupid Shuffle" came on the loudspeakers, Krista Dupes, who was at the event recruiting for the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts, obliged her youngest son as he grabbed her hand and took her to join a few others for the popular dance.

"It was the first time I tried it," she said with a laugh, adding that she even got a little bit of a workout. "It was very easy and fun."

Donna Hughes came to the picnic to enjoy the day with her daughter, Eileen Hughes-Enriquez, JB MDL Legal Office court stenographer, and her two daughters.

"It's awesome," Hughes said. "The rides are good, the food was excellent. Everyone is friendly and cheerful, and I hope it continues every year. I would love to come back."