Families and sports come together for family day

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt Sophia Piellusch
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Shouts of encouragement, laughter and music were the sounds of the 459th Air Refueling Wing's Sports and Family Day near the West Fitness Center here, Sept. 16.

The events of the day included a spouse's flight on a 135-KC Stratotanker, followed by a series of sports: softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer and a six-person 10k relay. There was also picnic food and numerous activities for children.

"I feel fulfilled," said Staff Sgt. Aisha Osae, 459 AES logistics technician. "It was a great day to get the family out. The openness of having an all-outdoor event is great. The hangar seemed more formal. I think having it outdoors helped people to enjoy the day more. "

The Rising 6, an organization at the 459ARW for technical sergeants and below, coordinated the wing's annual event with support from the Chief's Group, the First Sergeants Counsel, the Officers Corps and the 459th Wing Association for alumni.

"I was really excited about this year's Sports and Family Day," said Tech. Sgt. Rianna Newcomb, 459th Force Support Squadron chief career advisor and Rising 6 mentor. "There were so many things for people to get up and do."

Throughout the day service members were able relax and get to know each other better, as well as take part in a unit-wide sports competition.

"There's so much involvement and I like meeting new people and families who also contribute to the mission," said Airman First Class Rafael Morfin, a medical administrator for the 459 ASTS. "I like that the leadership is coming out and doing something everyone in the wing."

Six units represented four colors in the sports events. Wing staff and the mission support group showed out in green, the maintenance group blazed in blue, the operations group wore gray, and the medical units were represented in red.

Competitions lasted from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. afterwards; members would congregate to see which unit would rise above and beyond.

With all the competition abound, the goal for the day was to show appreciation to family members of the 459 ARW members.

"This is a small way of bringing our spouses into what we do on a weekend," said Chief Master Sgt. James T. Huffman, 459ARW command chief master sergeant. "Our spouses watch the kids for us; take care of the house, the bills - all of it, while we're gone."

The children of the 459 ARW members were able to enjoy the day as much as their hard-working parents.
There was a children's area in place for races and creative activities at the event.

While parents participated in the sporting events, the sons and daughters of the 459 ARW had creative designs painted on their faces, made tissue paper flowers, slurped snow cones and made arts and crafts.

The event concluded with a commander's call and Col. William H. Mason, the commander of the 459 ARW presented the winners of the family day sports competition with a trophy, the formal and informal awards and the half awards.

"This is one of the better and active family days I have seen," said Mason. "I am very impressed with the participation. People have worked very hard to put this together and I love what the chiefs are doing by cooking and doing the work and giving the junior enlisted Airman a chance to enjoy themselves. I encourage everyone to give us feedback so we can make next year's even bigger and better."

The blue-shirt MXG won the first place trophy and bragging rights until next year's Sports and Family Day.