Service members and their guests were honored by veterans
and community members during the Military Affairs Committee Military Fun Day at
Harkers Island, Oct. 9.
The Carteret County Military Affairs Committee hosted more
than 80 people during their visit to the Waterfowl Museum and Cape Lookout
National Seashore.
“The purpose of the Military Fun Day is to provide our
military members and their spouses the opportunity to get out and get away from
their work environment and have a fun time,” said David Heath, the chairman of
the Carteret Military Affairs Committee. “It gives them an opportunity to see Cape
Lookout. Many of the military members are not from this area and have never
heard of Cape Lookout or gone up to the lighthouse.”
Service members explored Cape Lookout and the Cape Lookout
National Seashore and Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Centers. Guest
freely roamed South Core Banks, then gathered at the museum to enjoy a meal and
participate in a raffle to win various prizes.
“It gives the community a way to show our military members
the appreciation we hold for their sacrifice and their dedication for their country,”
said Heath. “Carteret County is a very caring community and there are many
people that contribute to putting this day together for the service members.
Everyone from the ferry services to the businesses that donate prizes, as well
as many more contributors all come together to express our gratitude to the
military community in tangible ways during this event.”
“Military service takes a lot of dedication and commitment. Service
members put themselves in harm’s way and leave their family and friends to
perform their duties overseas. It is important for citizens of the United
States to show that this dedication and service mean something to the community,”
said Heath. “It is not like going down the street and working at a car dealer
or flipping burgers, it is something that comes from a personal sacrifice.”
The event provided service members the opportunity to unwind
and get away from their work environment. Marines were also given a chance to
meet other members of branches they do not work with in a regular basis,
explained Lance Cpl. Gary Cunningham, a fixed wing aircraft mechanic with
Marine Attack Training Squadron-203.
“It is interesting to see Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and other
service members in one area,” said Cunningham. “This
is the first time I have attended this event and it has given me a way of
meeting people I would never see on the air station.”
Military Fun Day provided
great food, vast entertainment, and many oportunities to socialize while
experiencing new things, explained Cunningham.
It gives the Marines a moral boost to see so many people contribute to
giving them a day of relaxation in gratitude for the work they do every day.
According to Linda Wynn, the administrative supply
technician with the station command deck at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry
Point, the event also grants service members the opportunity to interact with
other service members outside of their units.
“A lot of the Marines do not leave base often since they
live and work there,” explained Wynn. “This is a great way for them to broaden
their horizons by seeing more of the surrounding area and meet new people they
would have most likely never run into.”
The event has been an annual tradition for years Cherry
Point and its surrounding communities. The military community in Eastern North
Carolina has an important relationship with the people who live in the region.
Military Fun Day gives both communities the chance to come together and share
in a fun and relaxing experience while reflecting on the gratitude they share
for each other.