Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Devin Nichols | A Marine spouse throws a bowling ball down the lane during an event at the Bonnyman...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - As the little girl walked up to the lane with her mom and dad, she gently pushed her pink ball down the ramp.
The ball ricocheted off the bumpers, slowly made its way down the lane, and knocked the pins over.
She turned to her parents in joy.
The balls continued to roll as the Marines and families with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group socialized and enjoyed the sport of bowling at the Bonnyman Bowling Center here, March 16.
“I like bowling,” joked Heidi H. Starr, a Denver, Colo., native and volunteer with CLB-22. “I’m not good at it, but I like it. I win at keeping the pins up.”
Darlene M. Kern, the unit’s family readiness officer, greeted the Marines and their families with a big smile as she shook hands and hugged the guests.
“I wanted to bring the families together and build relationships,” said Kern, a Bradley, Ill., native. “Marines are always trained to have battle buddies, so I’m trying to get the spouses a battle buddy as well.”
Most of the unit’s servicemembers are participating in the Integrated Training Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., in preparation for a future deployment. The Marines and families that remained behind gathered at the bowling alley.
“It’s a nice way of meeting the other families,” said Starr. “I believe these opportunities give you a chance to meet that one friend you can always go to and build relationships that can last a lifetime.”
Spouses of servicemembers laughed and socialized as they bowled , and children of all ages ate pizza, enjoyed snacks and received gift bags as they waited for their chance to hit the lanes.
“I was a spouse for 23 years when my husband was active duty and while he was in the military, we didn’t have this stuff to enjoy,” said Kern. “I wanted to give back to the families because I didn’t have that support when I first came in.”
The connections and contacts the families receive through the unit’s events and activities help when their loved ones deploy for extended periods of time.
The battalion holds monthly activities for the families of CLB-22. When the Marines deploy again next year, occasions such as this will happen more frequent to keep the families close.
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2013 14:14 |
| Story ID: | 103737 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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