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JBB Labor Day County Fair

Courtesy Photo | Service members and civilians start the Labor Day 5K run, Sept. 6, in Holt Stadium at...... read more read more

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

09.13.2010

Courtesy Story

103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

By Sgt. Jessica Rohr and Pvt. Zach Zuber

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq— Two thousand soldiers, armen, and civilians gathered at the outdoor pooll, Sept. 5, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, to celebrate Labor Day. United Service Organizations, Red Cross and the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) came together to host the JBB County Fair for all to escape the overlapping days of work.

“It’s for soldiers and civilians to have fun,” said Sgt. Major Timothy Salich, G4 sergeant major with the 103rd ESC, and an Oakfield, Wis., native. “The bottom line, upfront, is for them to get away from the normal stuff of the day, and have some friendly competition, and have fun. Most of the time, service members are working all the time. Labor Day is just a blur, same with all the other holidays. It just goes right through because we are working right through them. So this gives them a chance to have fun.”

While anticipating the main events, JBB residents could enjoy milk can bowling, darts, rubber duck races, Plinko, 550-cord pull-a-prize, and the ring toss game, to name a few. Depending on their skills, participants received tickets they could redeem for prizes, such as t-shirt and sweatshirts.

During the festivities, service members and civilians also enjoyed root beer floats and kettle corn.

The first main event, a 200-meter swim competition, allowed service members the opportunity to show off their athleticism and team work.

“We entered the competition because we wanted to win, and we wanted to win for the young guys out on the flight line,” said Chief Master Sgt. Gordon Drake, maintenance superintendent with the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Group, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, and a Las Vegas, Nev., native. “They work hard every day and we wanted to increase their notoriety. They are often the unsung heroes. People always see their jets take off, but they don’t think about the guys behind the scene.”

The Labor Day County Fair also included a “Big Splash” competition and “Bring Your Own Boat Regatta,” along with BBQ, drinks and snacks.

“We wanted to do a fun Labor Day thing and we wanted to mimic what people do back home at the end of the summer, so we thought we would have a fair at the pool,” said Christine Gunderson, a duty manager with the USO, and a Seattle, Wash., native. “It’s hot, so why not?”

The final event in the Labor Day celebrations was the JBB Labor Day 5K run on Sept. 6 at Holt Stadium. Several hundred runners from every branch of service, as well as many civilian contractors, came out in the early morning hours to test their speed and endurance.

"An event like this is important because it gets people out running and having fun, especially for those people who don't get out and do [physical training] all the time," said Staff Sgt. Jenny Moore, the fitness and sports noncommissioned officer-in-charge with the 332nd Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 332nd AEW, and a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, who organized the run. "I just want more people to come out to the events because it would be good to get people to relax and enjoy themselves while we're here."

Each participant received a T-shirt for participating in either the walk or run event. Runners were happy to come out and start the day with some exercise.

With the many Labor Day activities, JBB residents were able to find a festive way to celebrate that suited them.

"This is the best way to keep morale up on JBB, because…we all come together and motivate each other to push forward," said Sgt. Darren Givens, a cargo checker with the 840th Transportation Battalion, 595th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, and a Baltimore, Md., native. "We should definitely have more events like this that help build camaraderie."