MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Service members and their families gathered together to partake in the festivities of the 13th annual San Onofre Community Center Community Day Celebration hosted by Marine Corps Community Services on Camp Pendleton, July 21.
“We are having this Community Day Celebration to help pass on information about the surrounding community to Marines and their families,” said Edward Woodfork, a recreation specialist with MCCS. “It helps families know what is available for them and their children, such as youth groups and recreational classes.”
Booths set-up around the parking lot offered crafts, giveaways and resources about organizations located on base or in the surrounding community.
“We have a few sponsored guests here to show what is available to families and their children on and off base,” said Woodfork. “We also have a variety of activities for the children to participate in such as arts and crafts, carnival games, a bounce house and a rock climbing wall.”
Some of the sponsors of the event included: Classic Chariots, Pendleton Family Dental, HG Innovative Market Solution, USAA and San Diego Spine and Rehabilitation.
“We saw an advertisement about this event and decided to see what they have to offer,” said Master Sgt. Michael Meyer, motor transportation chief for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. “Being new to the area, there is a lot of information about the community and what is available to us.”
Throughout the day, various performers presented skits and demonstrations for the service members and their families.
“A few demonstrations I performed in are the Shorin Ryu Karate demonstration and the Hawaiian dance,” said Jade Taniguchi, 17, a student at North High School. “I helped make some of the fight sequences we performed to show how to use a few weapons and to help teach the audience that even females can learn to defend themselves.”
Along with the performers, a raffle was held throughout the day offering prizes from gift certificates to video game systems.
“We expect to have about eight hundred to a thousand people show up to the event throughout the day,” Woodfork said.
The Armor of Light ministry provided food and refreshments to everyone at the event.
“I love doing events like this,” said Woodfork. “Seeing smiles on children’s faces and families having and good time is all the thanks I need.”