442nd Fighter Wing thanks its family members with picnic

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tom Talbert
  • 442nd Fighter Wing public affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The 442nd Fighter Wing thanked its biggest supporters Oct. 14 at the annual family day picnic held in Whiteman's Skelton Park.

The skies were clear, temperatures more like summer than fall; the food was plentiful and fun abounded; but most appreciated on this day were the families of the Citizen Airmen of the 442nd Fighter Wing.

Capt. Robert Fritts, one of the officers in charge of the planning said organizers were incredibly busy pulling it off but grateful for the overwhelming turnout.

"It gets harder and harder to thank the families for all they do with so many deployed in the past, but we are delighted to do it when we can with events like this," he said.

Family members were treated to great food, a disc-jockey, a variety games and fine prizes and the turn-out was impressive.

If the eating habit of the families is an indicator, these folks were grateful. One-thousand hamburgers, 400 bratwursts, 300 hot dogs and 250-pounds each of baked beans and potato salad were consumed by the 1,100 hungry people attending the event.

"Not since 2004 when we did our welcome home, have we fed this many wing-members at one time. At that time we served 1,800 meals," Captain Fritts said. "Because of deployments and the alternate UTA, we are still about 250 people short of full wing participation."