Family Day brings sunny fun for Airmen, families

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shane Huff
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The first 927th Air Refueling Wing Family Day Picnic was held Saturday at MacDill beach.  It was a gorgeous Spring day, perfect for fun under the sun. Approximately 600 wing members and their families spent the better part of the afternoon enjoying the food and sunshine. 

Activities for children and adults were provided, to include egg races, shovel and bucket kits, volleyball, and a team challenges, and some fund raising events.  The "Jail n' Bail" fundraiser gave anyone the opportunity to send someone to jail for $1, while the "Pay for a song" fundraiser allowed for anyone to choose a song to be played instead of listening to the D.J.'s sleepy music. The most anticipated fundraiser was the "Pie in the Face" event wherein wing members could pay $1 for someone within the wing to get a pie in the face. An ongoing battle for several weeks preceeding the picnic had ensued as to who would be the top contender ending with a list of top ten recipients. Master Sgt. Sherry Lockett-Strong, First Sergeant of the 927th Aerospace Medicine Flight, was the number one choice receiving over 250 votes.  Combined, the fundraising events gained over $1,300 which will go toward wing morale events such as the picnic.

The winners of the "927th ARW Family Day Team Competition Winner" trophy were Maj. Asan Bui, Maj. Marylin Lobash, Capt. Joshua Carson, Master Sgt. David Shaffer, and Senior Airman Barry Culbreath.  The competitoins were based on a point system for team races. Races included most pushups and situps in one minute, and a timed five-member race, part of which consisted of crawling under a net in the sand while wearing a helmet, kevlar flak vest, and web-belt.

Special thanks for planning, setting up, and running the family go to Senior Master Sgt. James Candler and the Services Flight, Master Sergeant Kraig Haun and the Security Forces Flight, Master Sgt. Kim Sisco and Tech. Sgt. Shannon Last of Airmen and Family Readiness, Master Sgt. Gary Wurmlinger of the Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Master Sergeant Sherry Lockett-Strong of the Aerospace Medicine Flight, Tech. Sgt. Darrell Raper of the 45th Aeromedical Squadron, Tech. Sgt Keri Mejas-Williams from Wing Staff, Tech. Sgt. Allison Clark of Maintenance Group, and Tech. Sgt. Yaree Parker of Operations Group.