Fishing for family fun

Photo By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jones | Father, Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Griffin, and son, J.P. Griffin, relax while fishing at the Fort Hunter Liggett Annual Fishing Derby. The derby is held in April at the Del Venturi Reservoir.  

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, UNITED STATES

04.02.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jones 

Fort Hunter Liggett Public Affairs Office

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – “I got one!” Could be heard around the lake all morning long as the annual Fort Hunter Liggett Youth Fishing Derby got started at the Del Venturi Reservoir on Fort Hunter Liggett.

Over 200 children from all around Central California came to fish, picnic and play on a sunny spring morning in April. The annual fishing derby is held as one of the events in celebration of the Army’s Month of the Military Child.

“It is an opportunity for children and their families to connect with each other, get hooked on an outdoor sport so they can enjoy quality family time together, and to show how the Fort Hunter Liggett, King City and our local communities support our families; to give thanks to the families that support us [the soldiers]” said Fort Hunter Liggett Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Newman.

The Army lifestyle can be a demanding one, especially during a time of war. Today a career in the Army, Active Duty or Reserve, will certainly include one or more overseas deployments. These deployments can last a minimum of several months or as long as 18 months each deployment. This can take the parent away for months or years over the term of one enlistment. The Month of the Military Child tries to bring awareness to our communities of the sacrifices and value our military families bring to our nation and our military.

In another celebration the Fort Hunter Liggett family and Morale Welfare and Recreation Directorate pulled out all the stops, complete with water slide, dunk tank, petting zoo and as always a great BBQ, for the children of the Post and surrounding community.
There are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18 with a parent serving in the military and about 900,000 with one or both parents deployed multiple times, according to Department of Defense statistics.

While the soldier serves overseas; the family serves at home acting as integral part of the core that gives our military the strength and will to carry out its mission. Fort Hunter Liggett provides base operations support enabling world-class Combat Support and Combat Service Support training, while providing for the well-being and security of soldiers, family members and civilians on post. With 161,900 acres of unencroached mountains, valleys, rivers, plains and forests it provides ideal maneuver areas for today’s training requirements.

Please visit our website for information on our organization, visit www.liggett.army.mil.

• Date Taken: 04.02.2011
• Date Posted: 06.20.2011 14:29
• Story ID: 72433
• Location: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US