The second event of fun-day consisted of a bike ride with three courses of varying distances. The youngest rider in this year’s event was 4-year-old Jayden Mejia, son of Master Sgt. Jay Mejia, a 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight medic.
“I think it is important that he see what his dad does,” said Mejia of his son, who rode with him, clad in an Air Force flight suit and a proper-fitting bicycle safety helmet. “He loves to go bike riding; we go riding all the time in downtown San Antonio to see the sites,” he said.
The theme this year was showing families what Alamo Wing members do during their drill weekends.
“We wanted the units to be able to show their families what they do,” said Lt. Col. Marc Mulkey, 733rd Training Squadron commander and event organizer. “People could come out and ask, ‘what does my dad or mom do’ or ‘what does my son or daughter do,’ and they can be shown that they are a part of this big operation and what our mission entails. This [event] is for the people who appreciate it, and the kids.”
With that in mind, the event’s organizers pulled all the favorites features from previous events and rearranged them to be more family-friendly.
“Family day is nice,” said Megan Grooms, wife of Staff Sgt. Albert Grooms, 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron. “My son likes being able to come and see the planes. He gets to meet the people my husband works with, and just hang out. Coming here from Laredo, we get to see what daddy does in San Antonio.”
One of the hangars on the flight-line was open to capture a cross-breeze and filled with food and drinks, display aircrafts, a C-5M engine, a stage, bouncy houses, and booths from several agencies handing out information.
Just outside the hangar, there were a car and motorcycle demonstrations, a San Antonio Police helicopter, a fire truck, a Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) display, dunk tank, sumo wrestling, and plenty of other events.
A C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft was parked just outside the open hangar for visitors. Family and friends of the 433rd were welcome to walk through the aircraft, with visitors climbing into the cockpit for a chance to sit in the pilots’ seats and tour the crew areas.
The event was not all fun and games as dental technicians from the 433rd Aerospace Medical Squadron had a booth on-site to promote good oral hygiene to children at the event. The dental techs also gave out goodie bags with toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste after visiting with the children.
“I am a dental technician on the outside,” said Senior Airman Jessica Bravo, a 433rd AMDS dental technician. “I love teeth, and I feel the kids we have seen are at the right age for them to start taking care of their teeth as soon as they start getting them.”
The enjoyment of the day by the Reserve Citizen Airmen families is a driving force behind the organizing of the event.
“I’ve been a member of the 433rd for 20 plus years, so that’s why I took charge of it,” said Mulkey. “We gave it good energy and these events are getting better and better each year.”
A key ingredient in growing the event is the support of wing’s Honorary Commanders.
“Our honorary commanders are doing a great job,” said Mulkey. “Every year we’ve been building on that relationship, through networking and receiving more and more of their support to the Alamo Wing.”
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2018 13:48 |
| Story ID: | 279370 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sunday Fun-day with the Alamo Wing, by TSgt Lauren Snyder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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