News>March Field hosts 40th-Annual Military Appreciation picnic
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Master Sgt. Laurice Souron, 163rd Reconnaissance Wing; Larry Froehlich, U.S. Air Force retired and Souron’s daughter honor the flag during the National Anthem at the 40th-Annual Military Appreciation picnic, Sept. 8, 2012. This year’s picnic was dedicated to celebrating the lasting memory of Laura “Flag Mama” Froehlich, Souron’s mother; Froehlich’s wife and Hite’s grandmother. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
U.S. Navy Sea Cadets stand in formation as the Blue Eagles Honor Guard present the colors at the 40th-Annual Military Appreciation Picnic, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., Sept. 8, 2012. The cadets volunteered to work at the event, which is coordinated and paid for by the Greater Riverside and Moreno Valley Chambers’ Military Affairs Committees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Volunteer Stephen Kendall (left) flips burgers at the 40th-Annual Military Appreciation Picnic, Sept. 8, 2012, as Tim Connacher puts more patties on the grill. Kendall and Connacher, along with Dave Dutcher (background), were part of the American Legion group that helped with food preparation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Team March members relax during a break for a bite to eat during the March Field, 40th Annual Military Appreciation Picnic, Sept. 8. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Col. Samuel Mahaney, commander, 452d AMW, shown here being dunked by Chief Master Sgt. Ericka Kelly, 452d AMW Command Chief, during the March Field, 40th Annual Military Appreciation Picnic, Sept. 8. Jamil Dada, picnic volunteer watches on as Chief Kelly takes matters into her own hands. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
9/28/2012 - MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- Some 5,000 March reservists, employees, and their family members gathered at the 40th Annual Military Appreciation Picnic LeMay Park Sep. 8 from noon to 5 p.m.
Picnic attendees feasted on cheeseburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, chips, soda, bottled water and cream treats, all free-of-cost, thanks to generous donations from vendors.
Children enjoyed a miniature amusement park inflatable play structures and adults enjoyed a display of classic cars and other luxury vehicles. Two bands kept the picnickers entertained, along with senior March ARB leaders who each endured minutes in the dunk tank.
The picnic is coordinated and hosted each in a joint effort between the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, the Moreno Valley Chambers of Commerce and The Silver Eagle Club.
"The community really appreciates the military members and their families, as well as the civilians who work on the base," said Lt. Col. Don Traud, a longtime member of the picnic planning committee.
Nearly 300 community volunteers helped with setup, cooking, serving, crowd control and cleanup. Cadets from local Civil Air Patrol and Sea Cadet chapters were out in force, as well as students from the Riverside County Culinary Arts School who helped with the food preparation. The University of California-Riverside women's basketball team assisted in making the picnic a success as well.
Some of the sponsors who made the picnic possible this year were: Albertsons, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Riverside Marriott, Boeing and the March Joint Powers Authority.
