Children dress to impress for mini Marine Corps ball

Photo By Sgt. Marcel Brown | Eugene Clark, director of Youth and Teen Center activities, hands the first slice of cake to Andres Ibanez, 5, the youngest child present during the cake cutting ceremony of the mini Marine Corps ball at the Club Iwakuni Ballroom here Oct. 27. During the cake cutting ceremony,the oldest and youngest child in attendance were presented with the first slices of cake before others were served.  

IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

10.27.2011

Story by Cpl. Marcel Brown 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

IWAKUNI, Japan - Marine Corps Community Services School Age Care Center, Youth and Teen Center and Marine Corps Family Team building coordinated the first-ever Mini Marine Corps Ball at the Iwakuni ballroom here, Oct. 27.

“We thought it would be fun for children to experience a shorter version of the ball since most of the time they can’t go with their parents, at least until they get older,” said Nina Nuttall, MCCS School Age Care Center program lead.

Approximately 140 mini warriors, ages 5 to 12, and 70 parents attended the mini ball.

The event included food, beverages, a live disc jockey, a uniform pageant, a photo booth and a mini Marine Corps ceremony.

“The ballroom was packed. Kids were engaged,” said Eugene Clark, director of Youth and Teen Center activities. “They had a great time and that was the main key. We wanted them to have a good time.”

Children were encouraged to dress in their Sunday best and bring dates to the event.

“This will boost my confidence to go with a girl and to know what it’s like, so I won’t be nervous at my first (ball),” said Shannen Lundverd, 11, Matthew C. Perry sixth-grader.

The ceremony kicked off with a welcome ceremony introducing children to Marine history and traditions of the Marine Corps Ball.

The marching of the colors presented by the M.C. Perry Junior Reserves Officers’ Training Corps color guard followed the welcome ceremony.

“If I become a Marine, I would already have the experience of the ball and know what it would be like in the future,” said Lundverd. “Events like this are good for other kids because they can have fun and interact with some of the kids their age.”

Guest speaker Master Gunnery Sgt. Clinton I. Taylor gave a few words of encouragement to the little warriors before the children turned to the cake cutting ceremony.

During the cake cutting ceremony, the oldest and youngest child in attendance were presented with the first slices of cake before others were served.

After the ceremony concluded, children ate dinner and the dance floor was open for business, giving them the full Marine Corps ball experience.

“We mainly just want them to take away the experience of the Marine Corps ball,” said Nuttall. “Since the parents do it every year, we figured that it would good for them to know what their parents experience.”

Coordinators agreed the station’s youth enjoy getting a peek into the life of a Marine.

Since most children on station have an active duty parent, it gives them an opportunity to walk in their parents’ shoes.

“The future is our youth,” said Clark. “So here aboard the air station, our main job as Marine and family programs is to keep the station happy. If I keep my staff happy, the staff is going to keep the kids happy. If the kids are happy, everybody is happy,” he added.

Along with the youthful experience and passing of knowledge, the event also gave residents old and young a chance to fellowship with one another.

“It shows that MCAS Iwakuni is a family community,” said Clark. “We care about the youth and children here aboard the air station. Also, it draws us closer because it takes a joint effort from all of us on the air station to pull off an event like this.”

Coordinators plan to make the mini Marine Corps Ball an annual event.

• Date Taken: 10.27.2011
• Date Posted: 11.02.2011 20:15
• Story ID: 79461
• Location: IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP