Marines, community members gather for festival

Photo By Sgt. Tyler Vernaza | Marines and Okinawan community members try their luck at a game booth during Hansen Fest Aug. 27. The goal of the game was to use fishing poles with rings instead of hooks to stand soda bottles upright. The festival concluded Aug. 28  

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.01.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Vernaza 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan - It was a sunny day, and the thrill of the festival could be felt in the air. The smell of warm funnel cakes and the promise of adventure drew Marines, sailors, families and Okinawan community members together at Camp Hansen’s annual Hansen Fest Aug. 27-28.

If fun was the aim, Hansen Fest was the game. The annual two days of revelry was open to all status of forces agreement personnel and Okinawan community members.

There was a ‘Kiddie Land’ with bounce houses, slides, trampolines and a ball pit for the children and numerous game booths. Festival-goers had the chance to win prizes such as video game systems, skateboards and toy swords. Marine Corps Community Services and Armed Forces Entertainment provided food and live music with performances by the bands Alien Ant Farm and Letters Burning.

“It’s good, sound, safe fun for everybody,” said Wilburt L. Key, sports coordinator for Camp Hansen Semper Fit Athletics and an organizer of an event at the festival.

Okinawan culture was on display through an Eisa performance at the festival. Eisa is a form of folk dance unique to the people of the Ryukyu Islands, using different types of drums and sanshin, a three-stringed instrument with a snakeskin body.

“It’s just good entertainment. Hansen Fest gives the Marines an inexpensive way to have fun with their friends and some of the [Okinawan community members],” said Cpl. Javier Magana, a fiscal clerk with the Staff Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.

Like many festivals, one of the main attractions was the mouthwatering variety of foods. From hot dogs, hamburgers and turkey legs, to soba and yakitori, there was no shortage of food at this festival.

With music, game booths, amusement rides, athletic events and a cultural mix of Okinawan and American food favorites, hundreds flocked to the festival.

Even the visiting band members tried their luck at some of the games as they passed out free music downloads and CDs and shook hands with festival-goers.

“We are totally excited to be here for the troops. We’re always willing to do something for a good cause, and being able to do something for our military is an honor,” said Tal Mir, lead singer and guitarist for the American rock band, Letters Burning. “We are so blessed to have such a great military, and hopefully we can show that by putting on a great show.”

• Date Taken: 09.01.2011
• Date Posted: 09.01.2011 01:59
• Story ID: 76272
• Location: CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP