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Andersen celebrates Labor Day with annual Bash

  • Published
  • By Airman Whitney Amstutz
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - --  Team Andersen kicked off the recent four-day weekend with the annual Labor Day Bash Sept. 3 at Arc Light Memorial Park here.

The event, hosted by members of the 36th Force Support Squadron, featured food, beverages, horseback riding, face painting, a bouncy castle, and an autograph session by the cast of Survivor, courtesy of Armed Forces Entertainment.

Hundreds of residents came out to celebrate Labor Day and take advantage of the opportunity to socialize with friends and neighbors.

Tayler Kukes, one of the many dependents who participated in the festivities, believes that events like the Labor Day Bash allow servicemembers and their families to get out and meet new people.

"I think it's really cool," Kukes said. "It's always fun to come out here and hang out with people you know and get to know some of the ones you don't."

Throughout the night, attendees had the opportunity to browse the different booths and listen to music. But the clear crowd favorite was the meet and greet with the contestants of Survivor. The cast members were available to sign autographs, take photos or just shoot the breeze with their fans.

Members of Team Andersen weren't the only ones enjoying the sunny weekend weather. Russell Swan, a contestant on Survivor: Samoa, was more than happy to visit Andersen and meet his fan following.

"Guam is awesome. It reminds me of my season on Samoa," Swan said. "The weather is very similar and you are so close to the beautiful ocean. Andersen is great. It's good to see the family environment with servicemembers and their families together."

Swan was enjoying more than just the atmosphere at the Labor Day Bash.

"I am just happy I can eat," he said. "My best survivor moment was when we were starving without food for eight days. We had a challenge where the prize was a nice T-bone steak and we won. I don't usually like steak, but that was the best day of my life and the best steak I've ever tasted."

In the wake of the Operational Readiness Inspection, the Labor Day Bash provided the perfect opportunity for Airmen and their families to unwind and relax.

"We had about 700 people at the bash," said HotSpot director, Michele Jacobs. "The Labor Day Bash is a way for us to get the community together to have fun and let everyone know how much we appreciate their hard work day in and day out to help support the mission at Andersen."