1st Medical Brigade Comes together for Halloween Retreat

Photo By Spc. Naveed Ali Shah | Soldiers and Family members of 1st Medical Brigade's headquarters company decorate pumpkins during their Halloween Retreat at Tyson's Corners Retreat Center in Lampasas Oct. 31.  

UNITED STATES

11.04.2008

Story by Spc. Naveed Ali Shah 

13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command (13th ESC)

By Pfc. Naveed Ali Shah
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affairs

The 1st Medical Brigade's headquarters company held a Halloween Retreat at Tyson's Corners Retreat Center in Lampasas Oct. 31.

The event included music by D.J. Rodney Byrd, horseback riding for kids, a fishing pond, a moon-bounce, pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating table, a game of witch hunt, hayrides, a haunted trail, catered Texas bar-b-que, and raffles and prizes.

The Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company brought their families to enjoy the festivities with kids, both young and old, dressed for the occasion. The event was attended by such VIPs as Ironman, Batman, Supergirl, Wonderwoman, as well as lions and tigers, several princesses, and the customary witches and vampires. The families all got to enjoy the festivities together.

The headquarters is scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the next six months, so the Family Readiness Group has been working to get the unit's families together in extracurricular activity. For Soldiers, meeting outside the work environment allows an opportunity to build stronger bonds with one another, and their families get to become closer friends with those they would depend on most during the upcoming deployment.

"It's really good that we have the opportunity to get to know one another and [will be able to] rely on each other during our upcoming deployment," said Capt. John Kiraly, commander, HHC, 1st Med. Bde.

The Retreat Center had several horses out for the children to ride, a pumpkin patch where children could pick a pumpkin and then decorate with their parents and a moon-bounce where the kids could literally bounce off the walls.

"It's a pleasure and an honor to work with Soldiers once again," said Gene Tyson, retired Army Chaplain, and retreat director, Tyson's Corners. "As a chaplain, I worked with Soldiers for 20 years and I wanted to continue doing that."

Tyson, who has been running the retreat center for about eight years, says he got the inspiration from his two years as the Retreat Director in Berchtesgaden, Germany.

"I thought this would be a good deal to do for Soldiers at home," said Tyson, "It motivated me to buy this property near Fort Hood, near the Soldiers."

• Date Taken: 11.04.2008
• Date Posted: 11.04.2008 13:14
• Story ID: 25907
• Location: US