LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The trees and tents provided relief from the baking afternoon sun, Aug. 3, during the Langley-Eustis Appreciation Day at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Families hustled through the event grounds, stopping at booths or trying their skills at one of the many games offered.
Even after a windy night tore down many of the tents set-up for LEAD, the community center and senior non-commissioned officer volunteers persevered and completed repairs before the event kicked-off at 11 a.m.
"We had some trouble with the wind for sure," said James Murrell, the community center manager. "But that didn't stop us!"
That peppy attitude was shared by volunteers, staff members and participants alike. From riding a mechanical bull to playing in a one-pitch softball tournament, it was hard not to get excited somewhere in the mix.
This was Langley's first LEAD, as the name changed from Junior Enlisted Appreciation Day in 2011.
Tech. Sgt. Michael Bond, a 36th Intelligence Squadron training manager, attended last year's JEAD and said the change from JEAD to LEAD brought some upgrades with it.
"The live music makes the experience better than last year," said Bond. "I love it, it's a good environment."
That live music was provided by the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band's "Blue Aces."
For Tech. Sgt. Bennett Weidermann, Blue Aces drummer, this was his first experience with LEAD.
"I'm really glad I got to play," said Weidermann. "I'm impressed by leadership's effort; this is a great chance to blow off steam."
Opportunities to blow off steam came from numerous competitive events, such as volleyball or the three-point shootout area. For some, virtual entertainment appealed more than getting down and dirty in the heat. LEAD featured a fully equipped "gamer bus" that allowed participants to play game matches against other competitors via system-linked game systems.
Senior Airman Jason Bendily, a LEAD gamer and technician with the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, enjoyed his experience with the gamer bus before he watched his unit compete in a softball tournament.
"Playing on the bus beats playing online," said Bendily. "It was a great way to kill time before I saw my team compete."
Children weren't left out during this family-oriented experience. Bouncy castles, temporary tattoos, carnival booths and even snow cones were available to for everyone. Weidermann brought his family with him to enjoy these events.
Whether relaxing in the shade or taking on the mechanical bull, Airmen and their families are able to look forward to more events hosted by their leadership, knowing that the bar has been set that much higher.
In the future, Murrell said there will be more coordination with the Fort Eustis Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center to make the event more integrated in the spirit of Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
"We always strive to show our Airmen a good time," said Murrell. "This day was definitely dedicated to that mission."