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Spring Carnival a blast for Team Andersen

  • Published
  • By Airman Carissa Wolff
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
More than 600 military and family members attended the Spring Carnival and participated in the Easter egg hunt held at the field adjacent to Andersen's Youth Center April 11.

Since April is Month of the Military Child, the Airman and Family Readiness Center combined the base's annual Easter egg hunt into a much larger event for the children and their families.

"This is the first year we combined the Easter Egg Hunt and the Month of the Military Child Carnival and I believe it was a success," said Lori Propes, 36th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Services flight chief.

Although hundreds of children gathered to hunt for more than 3,000 eggs hidden at the Spring Carnival, many more activities were available. While many of the children enjoyed carabao rides, face painting, hair coloring and receiving balloons, others competed in the basketball toss, football toss, horseshoe toss, ring toss and archery. Additionally, Airman and Family Readiness Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Family Advocacy and Military Family Life consultants operated informational booths for families and the fire department, explosive ordinance disposal flight and Helicopter Sea Combat-25 held demonstrations displaying each unit's capabilities.

Attendees agreed that combining the Month of the Military Child Carnival with the Easter egg hunt was a good idea.

"I'm glad they combined them together," said Theresa Hamblen, wife of Staff Sgt. Matthew Hamblen, 734th Air Mobility Squadron passenger service agent. "We were able to get everything in at one time during the event instead of going to several events over the course of a weekend or a week. My 5-year-old daughter kept saying, 'Mom, look at all this stuff!'"

Parents also expressed their thanks to the 36th FSS for providing activities such as the Spring Carnival for military children.

"I think these events are some of the most important for military children," said Staff Sgt. Nadja Hines, 36th Wing Judge Advocate noncommissioned officer in charge of adverse actions. "In a culture where everything is constantly moving, even kids' parents, these kinds of events help keep children grounded which is very important to their growth."