Snapshot The Flagship | flagshipnews.com | 10.30.14 | A8
■ the activities Kids received a certificate after completing at least four activities at the Military Family Festival. Activities included the Captain America Obstacle Course, Flash Tire Dash, Wonder Woman Lasso Of Truth, Super Man Velcro Wall, Cat Woman Laser Maze, Spider Man Web Swing, and the Hulk Wall Smash.
Photos by Harry Gerwien Military Newspapers of Virginia
‘Spiderman,’ ‘Captain America’ among attendees at superherothemed Military Family Festival By Cathy Heimer Jet Observer
Our goal is – just like all the other folks at TMFSC – to make sure the military families know all the resources that are available to them.” -USAA Military Affairs Representative Brad Sargent
VIRGINIA BEACH
Thirty minutes before the doors opened to the annual Military Family Festival Oct. 26, a crowd of “super heroes” of all shapes and sizes had already formed inside the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Batman and Robin, Superman, Captain America, The Incredibles and youthful soldiers in camouflage, were joined by Ninja Turtles, princesses in all pastel colors of costumes, and a family of Dr. Seuss characters, among others. And by the time the doors opened at 11, a line of children and their parents snaked across the center’s entrance for the free event bringing together military families with local nonprofits and businesses that serve them. Previously hosted by the Tidewater Military Family Services Council (TMFSC), 2014 marks the first time it was hosted by Military Newspapers of Virginia (MNV), publisher of the Flagship and Jet Observer newspapers. “In addition to producing weekly papers, we also put on a number of important events that support the military community … We saw this as opportunity to step up and take on the family festival this year. We’re proud to host this year’s Military Family Festival,” explained Laura Baxter, publisher and general manager of MNV and The Flagship Inc. “This is designed as an opportunity for military families to have a chance to come to a very military-family-friendly event, where they can bring their children. They can learn a little bit about military support organizations at the same time they are here. At the same time, they can interact with the community partners that support them,” said Russell Ariza, TMFSC chairman and executive director of the Armed Services YMCA. The festival has drawn 6,000 in each of the past two years, and to accommodate its growing popularity, has meant moving it to larger spaces. Although held in the convention center for the third time, the exhibit halls were used to make it easier for young families with strollers and those with wheelchairs. One of the youngest super heroes attending had to be Henry Powers, just 2 weeks old. “We came to check things out,” explained new mom Natalie, as a sleeping Henry was carried by his dad, Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Andrew
Powers from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dressed as Mrs. Cat in the Hat, Brandy Jemmott and her husband Miljan, who was the Cat in the Hat, brought their six children for the second year in a row. Four of the kids were dressed as “Things 1 – 4” and the remaining were two little “whos” from “Horton Hears a Who.” “We came last year and we loved it,” said Brandy, who retired from the
Army, as Miljan, a prior Navy Sailor, agreed. “We’re able to access different military connections that we might not normally,” Brandy explained, as she looked around at the various booths. The Jemmotts, who came from Hampton, said they enjoyed everything from the activities to the giveaways by various organizations. For taking first place in the family category of the costume contest, the family walked away
with one of several gift cards donated by Navy Federal and USAA. Business and organizations participating ranged from Farm Fresh to pediatricians, chiropractors and orthodontists, educational institutions, the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, Gold Star families and Fleet and Family Support Center. Interactive activities were planned around the Super Hero theme. Immediately after entering, children were greeted by a huge inflatable, where they could climb, crawl and slide their way across a section of the venue. Then it was on to the tire obstacle course, where they were greeted by a host of costumed characters who helped them through the tires and posed for photos. Along with the costume contest for each age group, a juggler, magician and Spectrum Puppets entertained the crowd throughout the afternoon. After completing each activity around the exhibit hall, kids received a stamp on their card and when complete, earned a personalized super hero certificate. As parents talked with staff at each booth, children were entertained by games of cornhole, spinning the wheel for prizes, or learning the proper technique for spinning plates, which was demonstrated by Ronald McDonald.
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