Red, White & Food Wine Festival provides sweet, sour social scene for station residents

Photo By Sgt. Benjamin Pryer | A Red, White & Food Wine Festival patron participate in the Red, White & Food Wine Festival that took place in the Club Iwakuni ballroom aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 15, 2014. The event was open to station residents and Japanese locals.  

IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

03.15.2014

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Pryer 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

IWAKUNI, Japan - Station residents dressed up and winded down during the Red, White & Food Wine Tasting Festival that took place inside the Club Iwakuni ballroom aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 15, 2014.

“The wine festival is one of our most successful events; we sell out of tickets every year,” said Chad Landry, general manager of Club Iwakuni. “I think this is a great opportunity for the community to get out and enjoy the club and other people. It’s a great event because it’s a chance for everyone to get away from their kids and enjoy all the people they work with and see every day, but on a social level.”

Landry mentioned that this is his third year organizing the event and has seen all 500 tickets sell out every time.

“This is one of my favorite events because I get to enjoy it,” said Landry. “I don’t participate with the wine since I’m working, but it helps me remember why (the club is) here, and the reason I think we’re here is to take care of the people who take care of us: the Marines, the sailors and their families. It’s an opportunity for me to see them enjoy themselves.”

Advertisements stated that the festival supplied more than 100 different kinds of wine, along with a plethora of Hor d’oeuvres.

“If you’re of age, you should experience this,” said Lance Cpl. Michael Yellig, a wine festival patron. “This is an extraordinary experience that I’m happy to be a part of today. It’s right on base, it’s easy to walk to - it’s just nice. There are a lot of people here who I know and it’s nice coming together outside of our shop to socialize in a mature atmosphere.”

Yellig mentioned that his sister sells wine and he thought the event provided an excellent selection of wine and food for an affordable price, seeing how something similar to this would normally cost approximately 200 dollars in the United States.

While many attendees brought spouses or chatted with peers, it was noticeable that several junior Marines got to interact on a more personal level with senior leaders, an opportunity that doesn’t permit itself within a work environment.

• Date Taken: 03.15.2014
• Date Posted: 03.19.2014 22:43
• Story ID: 122264
• Location: IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP