The gray skies and eerie winds provided the perfect backdrop for ghosts and ghouls to roam the streets of Naval Air Station Sigonella’s base housing in search of candy Nov. 6, 2021. Although Halloween was almost a week earlier, the community postponed celebrations after severe flooding left many homes in base housing damaged in late October.
Originally scheduled for Oct. 30, Sigonella’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation’s “Halloween in Sigonella” celebrations were moved to Nov. 6 not only because of rain scheduled for the original date, but also to allow those affected by the flooding an opportunity to regroup.
“We actually debated quite a bit about when the best time to celebrate was,” said Marissa Johnson, MWR’s community recreation director. “While an event may have been fun for everyone to get out of the house and celebrate that immediate weekend of Halloween, we also understood that a lot of people's lives were affected in various ways by the flooding and storms that week. We wanted to be respectful and understanding of those recovering from the storms, and allow the entire community to be able to come out, celebrate and enjoy some Halloween fun! “
The festivities began with a fun run in-costume at 12:00 pm, and “The Pumpkin” followed with bounce houses, face painting, a pumpkin patch, and costume contests. Afterwards, a parade featuring a fire truck and several decorated cars wound through the streets of the Marinai housing complex, with riders tossing candy to spectators. Finally, children trick-or-treated throughout the neighborhood, gravitating towards several houses that still sported Halloween decorations.
Last year’s trick-or-treating was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, but MWR created the candy parade in 2020 as a way to celebrate the holiday with social distancing in place.
“It was such a hit last year, and we thought what better way to celebrate the spooky holiday after a hard week than hitting the streets of Marinai at dusk with some frighteningly sweet treats for the community to enjoy,” said Johnson. “All the smiling faces and adorable costumes along the way are a great bonus!”
For children in Sigonella, the holiday was a welcome moment of joy in a year filled with challenges. Many sporting events and celebrations were canceled during the 2020-2021 school year as a result of the pandemic.
Christine Arnold, a science teacher at Sigonella Middle/High School, wore a candy corn costume as she trick-or-treated with her family. She also rode in the parade with the Scouts BSA car.
“It was great to be part of such an important American tradition on the heels of such a trying time for our community,” she said. “It was wonderful to see everyone out and about and enjoying life, and it was a wonderful chance for our Scouts to give back to their community!”
The MWR celebration wasn’t the only costume-related-event that was postponed due to the flooding. Sigonella Elementary School’s annual Storybook Parade, which was canceled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, was rescheduled due to floods this year as well. On November 5, parents and community members lined the sidewalks to admire the students’ creative costumes and variety of books as they meandered through NAS I.
Known as the “Hub of the Med,” NAS Sigonella’s strategic location as the Navy’s only overseas air station enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required to ensure security and stability in Europe and Africa.
| Date Taken: | 11.11.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2021 07:18 |
| Story ID: | 410093 |
| Location: | SIGONELLA, IT |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sigonella Celebrates Halloween, by Megan Mills, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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