Alissa Aguirre, 5, stood patiently in line as Anna-mime the Clown twisted and turned balloons into her favorite animal.
Marveling at the white, weightless poodle, Aguirre approached her parents, Angela and Sgt. Felix Aguirre, with a huge smile on her face.
“Wow, look at that,” her mother said.
The Aguirre family, who are stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, were one of hundreds of families who showed up to Fort Stewart’s “Worth Fighting For!” Fourth of July festivities on Friday.
The day full of events was free and open to the public. Scheduled activities included a carnival, a BMX bike show, a rock climbing wall, bungy jumping, arts and craft activities, a concert and fireworks.
Felix Aguirre said the occasion gave him and his family something to do at a time when money is tight.
“I think this is fabulous,” he said. “If we were not here we would probably be sitting at home watching TV. It shows that they are thinking a lot about us and it gives us the opportunity to spend quality time with our families.”
According to Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo the celebration, which was provided by the division and Fort Stewart’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department and Child and Youth Services, was intended to give soldiers a break from the norm.
“What makes this Fourth more special is that, besides some small units, everyone is home, but as we all know even when you’re home it’s busy as heck, it’s not easy, so we wanted to give them this day to say, ‘hey, here are four days when you can come out, spend quality time with your family or sleep in if you want to’,” he said. “And we wanted to provide all that.”
Free food was also provided to the soldiers by more than 25 volunteer vendors from Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Savannah and Glennville.
Rep. Jack Kingston (GA-1st) even came out to serve barbecue dinners at the Heritage Bank Booth.
“I think it is very important that the communities formally thank the troops and there is no better day than the Fourth,” he said of his visit.
Cucolo said the support his division received from the communities was insurmountable.
“I would like the people in D.C. to see this and see how much this community supports its soldiers,” he said. “When they are making basing decisions, I hope they take into account how supportive this community is.”
Marveling at the white, weightless poodle, Aguirre approached her parents, Angela and Sgt. Felix Aguirre, with a huge smile on her face.
“Wow, look at that,” her mother said.
The Aguirre family, who are stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, were one of hundreds of families who showed up to Fort Stewart’s “Worth Fighting For!” Fourth of July festivities on Friday.
The day full of events was free and open to the public. Scheduled activities included a carnival, a BMX bike show, a rock climbing wall, bungy jumping, arts and craft activities, a concert and fireworks.
Felix Aguirre said the occasion gave him and his family something to do at a time when money is tight.
“I think this is fabulous,” he said. “If we were not here we would probably be sitting at home watching TV. It shows that they are thinking a lot about us and it gives us the opportunity to spend quality time with our families.”
According to Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo the celebration, which was provided by the division and Fort Stewart’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department and Child and Youth Services, was intended to give soldiers a break from the norm.
“What makes this Fourth more special is that, besides some small units, everyone is home, but as we all know even when you’re home it’s busy as heck, it’s not easy, so we wanted to give them this day to say, ‘hey, here are four days when you can come out, spend quality time with your family or sleep in if you want to’,” he said. “And we wanted to provide all that.”
Free food was also provided to the soldiers by more than 25 volunteer vendors from Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Savannah and Glennville.
Rep. Jack Kingston (GA-1st) even came out to serve barbecue dinners at the Heritage Bank Booth.
“I think it is very important that the communities formally thank the troops and there is no better day than the Fourth,” he said of his visit.
Cucolo said the support his division received from the communities was insurmountable.
“I would like the people in D.C. to see this and see how much this community supports its soldiers,” he said. “When they are making basing decisions, I hope they take into account how supportive this community is.”