That’s a wrap: Families celebrate the holidays

Photo By Cpl. Jolene Bopp | Marines and their families line up to receive free raffle tickets for the Marine Corps Exchange give-a-way during the All Wrapped Up Marine Corps Air Station event, Dec. 2. Prizes were provided by the exchange and ranged from bikes to household appliances. In addition to the yellow ribbons, Family Team Building provided supplies to make cards for deployed Marines.  

YUMA, AZ, UNITED STATES

12.02.2011

Story by Cpl. Jolene Bopp 

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

YUMA, Ariz. - Marine Corps Air Station Yuma invited Marines and their families to celebrate the holidays at the All Wrapped Up event at the Marine Corps Exchange, Dec. 2.

To start off the event, Col. Robert Kuckuk, station commanding officer, lit the Christmas Tree and announced Santa Clause’s arrival. After the tree lighting people were invited to place a yellow ribbon for deployed military members.

“One of the best parts about being the station commanding officer is I get to see Santa come in on our radar,” said Kuckuk.

The band, Tommy and the Drifters, began playing while vendors from the exchange and Club Pulse opened their booths to provide free food for the event.

“We had a lot of free giveaways from the exchange food court, Club Pulse and the entertainment complex,” said Jill Zauner, MCCS coordinator. “We had the single Marine program doing photos with santa’s elves and New Parents Support provided a toy land from Arizona Adventures for the younger kids. The Child Development Center had few games.”

Aside from games and free giveaways, Family Team Building teamed up with Red Cross to provide items to make cards for troops overseas. The Christmas Wish Foundation donated 100 trees for Trees for Troops to Marines E-5 and below.

At the end of the night, there was also a free raffle for the chance to win numerous prizes from bikes to KitchenAid appliances.

“The big thing was the giant raffle at the end,” said Zauner. “The exchange provided the items and we were able to give out an X-Box Kinect, washer and dryer, and a flat screen T.V. Everything in the exchange was also on sale.”

“The event gets bigger every year,” added Zauner. “I love coordinating these events to give back to the station community, plus it is a lot of fun.”

• Date Taken: 12.02.2011
• Date Posted: 12.19.2011 18:48
• Story ID: 81588
• Location: YUMA, AZ, US