37th annual military appreciation picnic
By Megan Just, 452nd AMW Public Affairs
/ Published October 05, 2009
16 of 22
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
Brigadier General James Melin, commander of the 452 Air Mobility Wing, resurfaces after making a splash in the dunk tank during the annual picnic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sgt. Joe Zuccaro)
17 of 22
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
Staff Sgt. Angel Gallardo, a photographer with 4th Combat Camera Squadron, signs a banner during the annual picnic. The banner will be displayed at the base passenger terminal for deploying and returning troops to see. (U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sgt. Joe Zuccaro)
18 of 22
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
A U.S. Navy League Cadet Corps Seaman Apprentice hands out refreshments during the annual March Air Reserve Base picnic as part of the Corps service detail. (U.S. Air Force photo taken by Staff Sgt. Erica J. Knight)
19 of 22
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
Nick Polk, from a local jumpers company, observes 8 year-old Rachel as she climbs to the top of an inflatable wall during the March ARB, Calif., annual picnic. (U.S. Air Force photo taken by Staff Sgt. Erica J. Knight)
20 of 22
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
U.S. Army ROTC Cadet 2nd Lt. Dominque Alvarez, monitors children of military families as they play on an inflatable waterslide during the annual picnic at March ARB. (U.S. Air Force photo taken by Staff Sgt. Erica J. Knight)
21 of 22
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
Idaneli smiles while having a rainbow drawn on her arm by Rinkles the clown during the annual picnic held at March ARB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dawn Price)
22 of 22
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
Military members and their families enjoy the festivities during the annual picnic held at March ARB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dawn Price)
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --
Over 5,300 March reservists, employees, and their family members gathered at the 37th Annual Military Appreciation Picnic LeMay Park Sep. 19 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.
Three bands (Elements, Jazz Junkies and Let's Jazz) 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 Major Don Traud, a longtime member of the picnic planning committee.
Over 200 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.
Some of the sponsors who made the picnic possible this year were: Albertsons, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Riverside Marriott, Boeing, March Joint Powers Authority, and Kaiser-Permanente Riverside.