Face painting

Lt. Col. Anne Yelderman, former 442nd Maintenance Squadron commander, now 442nd Mission Support Group deputy commander, paints faces during a maintenance group picnic at Skelton Park during the August unit training assembly. The 442nd MXS and MSG are part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Tom Talbert)

Maintenance group hosts family day

Published Sept. 10, 2010
By Senior Airman Danielle Wolf
442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- After months of operational readiness inspection preparation and execution, maintainers and their families were finally able to breathe again.

That's what Senior Airman Kathleen Woodward, orderly room technician, said about the 442nd Maintenance Group's family day picnic Aug. 7.

"The inspection phase was stressful for a lot of people and it took time away from our families," she said. "So it was good to be able to get together, relax and just breathe - and to be able to spend time with our families."

Airman Woodward said her two, young children spent time at the picnic in the bouncy house and getting their faces painted.

Staff Sgt. Justin Bunting, 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electro-environmental technician, said his daughter played on the playground and seemed to be having a good time at the picnic.

"Everybody really needed this break," he said. "It was good stress relief and gave us a chance to bond and appreciate one another. Plus, who doesn't want to go to a picnic and eat steak?"