Photo By Sgt. Benjamin Crilly | Pfc. Justin Roussel, a motor vehicle operator with Truck Company Bravo, Headquarters...... read more read more
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MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — Marines, sailors, friends and families enjoyed free beverages, burgers, hot dogs, boating and all the sun they could soak up during the Marine Appreciation Day at Lake Mission Viejo, April 28.
The 5th annual event, commonly known as “Lake Day,” was sponsored by the residents of Mission Viejo, Calif., to show support for the Marines and sailors of Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
There were activities for people of all ages including boating, fishing, bounce houses, playgrounds and volleyball. Living up to years past, service members were able to share the day with loved ones alongside the men and women they serve with day-in and day-out.
Lake Day comes this year as Headquarters Battalion prepares to conduct field exercises in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Beginning next week, the battalion will mobilize to provide support to the Marines of 11th Marine Regiment as the regiment conducts their spring artillery exercise.
The City of Mission Viejo gave service members and their guests unlimited access to a private lake, beach facilities and boat rentals typically reserved for community use only.
For others, the event allowed their spouses to make friends within the unit and become acquainted with the people they can rely on during long days, field ops and future deployments.
“Lake Day brings your families together, allows our kids to meet other kids and builds morale,” said Staff Sgt. Juan Pena, a warehouse chief for Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion.
The relationships between spouses and the families are important for the unity of the battalion and ensure families will be taken care of when their loved ones are called upon to leave home.
“You never know when wives are going to need each other,” said Pena, from Bronx, N.Y., whose wife has handled difficult situations while Pena was deployed in the past. “They may need help from someone or it could just give children someone to play with.”
The volunteers for the event were from Lake Mission Viejo and are no strangers when it comes to helping Marines. Every month, they visit wounded warriors at Camp Pendleton and mail out 50-100 lbs. in care packages to deployed Marines from within the battalion. However, the day at the lake is the only opportunity the residents have to host the Marines of the battalion in their community.
“The people from the lake just want to thank us for everything we do as a Marine Corps and as a battalion,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Savage, the battalion’s commander. “They really pull out all the stops to show their appreciation.”
The association also raised more than $25,000 in funds throughout the year to pay for costly and unforeseen things the average Marine may not be able to afford. The items include Marine Corps ball tickets, airfare for Marines placed on convalescent leave and other special projects that affect Marines within the battalion.
“These young men are giving more of themselves than I ever did in Korea,” said Bruce Hunt, the chairman of the Marines and Sailors Adoption Committee and a Mission Viejo resident who served as a sergeant in the Korean War. “You have guys out here who have three and five tours overseas. We are just so pleased, and people are so generous helping us show our appreciation.”
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2012 18:29 |
| Story ID: | 87691 |
| Location: | MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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