Photo By Capt. Monika Comeaux | Soldiers, family members and guests enjoy a line dance to a country song, April 28, at...... read more read more
Subscribe
SALADO, Texas - Over 300 soldiers, family members and distinguished guests participated in the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) annual Bluebonnet Ball, April 28 at Tenroc Ranch in Salado, Texas.
The ball allowed participants to have fun and socialize in a more relaxed atmosphere, wearing “Texas casual” as their suggested “uniform” for the evening.
As Col. Knowles Y. Atchison, the deputy commander of the 13th ESC noted, half of the ESC headquarters are deployed to Afghanistan. The unit, with the 4th Sustainment Brigade’s lead, has been providing non-stop support to Fort Hood and 18 brigades within the installation.
“’We are very good at working hard, but we have not done a good job playing hard,” said Atchison. “We are going to dismiss formalities and we are going to spend the evening eating… dancing and enjoying each other’s company; and that is the mission set for the evening,” ordered the deputy commander.
To remain true to the Western-style setting and theme, barbecued pork and beef, grilled sausage, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw made up the main courses, followed by homemade, hand decorated blue bonnet cupcakes. The 1st Cavalry Regiment band and a DJ provided music for everyone’s entertainment.
Organizing an event like this is ‘no cakewalk,’ as 2nd Lt. Philip S. Walerko Jr., a movement control officer and for this event an action officer from the 80th Movement Control Team got to find out first hand. There is “lots of work, countless hours behind this event…I started helping them out in early March, two months ago.”
But his and his fellow action officers’ hard work paid off. According to April Lloyd, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 13th ESC spouse, the event was “very laid-back… relaxing and more energetic than a formal ball.” She has never been to a ball without formal dresses and cowboy boots as part of the attire.
Walerko, whose favorite part of the ball was the food, agrees that the event was relaxed. Having been with the unit for only two months, he has not seen many of his co-workers or supervisors outside of the office. “It is nice to hang out with some of the leadership and get to see what are they like out of work,” he said.
Lloyd said she gets regular emails about upcoming 13th ESC events. She was happy with the event all in all: “The location is very nice, it fits the concept of the idea that they were aiming for, and the food was really good…I don’t think I would change anything.”
Lloyd would like to know what is offered for single soldiers and would enjoy events geared towards couples. Both Walerko and Lloyd agreed that they would like to see more events like this in the future.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2012 11:03 |
| Story ID: | 87658 |
| Location: | SALADO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command holds Bluebonnet Ball, by CPT Monika Comeaux, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
