June 5, 2015 -- Marines, sailors and their families’ challenges of balancing personal lives while answering the nation’s call for duty does not go unnoticed by Marine Corps Logistics Command and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany leadership.
Recognizing these daily sacrifices, LOGCOM/MCLB Albany officials paused for fun, camaraderie and showed their appreciation for their troops during the Combined Unit and Family Fun Day at Covella Pond here, June 4.
Justin Smith, family readiness officer, LOGCOM, along with the family readiness team, worked together to put on the event.
“The purpose of the event is to motivate and strengthen unit and family bonds amongst single and married Marines, sailors and their families,” Smith said. “Events like this keep family readiness at the forefront of everyone’s mind.”
During his opening remarks, Lt. Col. James C. Carroll III, commanding officer, MCLB Albany, said families are key to the success of LOGCOM/MCLB Albany.
“Our efforts aboard this base would be limited without the support of our families,” Carroll said. “Our families are integral to our success everyday aboard the installation.”
Hannah Barden, wife of Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Barden, equipment specialist, Marine Corps Systems Command, attended the event with her children and explained what the day meant to her.
“It lets us know that (the command leadership) thinks of (the families, too),” Barden said. “It’s good because the families (who) live off base and the families (who) live on base can get together, have fun and meet each other, especially since this is a small (base).”
She said there were many activities for both adults and children, and her daughter added, “There were tons of tents with lots of games.”
There were a variety of bouncy houses, face painting, kiddie pools and waterslides for small children while the older youth played kickball, hula hoops and participated in several other events throughout the day.
Other recreational activities included volleyball, corn hole, horseshoes, flag football and a boat ride around Covella Pond.
Throughout the day, families socialized as they ate grilled hamburgers and hot dogs at tables under a pavilion that protected them from the Southwest Georgia sun. The food was catered by the LOGCOM Marine Corps birthday ball committee.