Airmen enjoy 'thank you' gourmet picnic

  • Published
  • By Anne Morrison
  • Hilltop Times staff
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Last Friday, Hill's surrounding community joined forces to say "Thanks" to U.S. service men and women and their families. The Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee held their 10th annual Salute to our Nation's Defenders Picnic on base at Centennial Park.

The event welcomed all active duty, Reserve and Guard personnel along with their families to enjoy an afternoon of live music, food and activities for the kids. Squatters Brewery served beer, Gastronomy Inc. provided a barbecue meal complete with all the fixings, Winder Farms brought ice cream and chocolate milk and Coca-Cola donated soft drinks and water.

Those in attendance weren't the only ones who got to enjoy the meal, though. To-go meals were packed and taken to those in critical-duty positions, such as security forces and members on the flight line.

"I'm totally taken aback," said recently appointed 75th Air Base Wing commander, Col. Sarah Zabel of the community's response. Zabel said she expected a large crowd.

Barbara Riddle, Top of Utah MAC member and chairwoman for the event, gave a rough estimate of about 2,500 in attendance, saying she has never seen that many people at the picnic before. "There was a constant flow. It was a great turn out and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time."

Last year, Riddle gave an estimate of around 1,700 for the afternoon.

The first four years of the picnic started as a way to welcome Airmen home from deployments triggered in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. The Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee organized the event as a form of appreciation, collecting sponsors from the surrounding area.

Bob Ekstrom, chairman of the Top of Utah MAC, said because deployments became more frequent, the committee finally "quit trying to chase a date" to welcome home the constant waves of returning Airmen, and decided to have one big celebration for them all.

"The committee does it as a way to say thank you to all the families for sacrificing for our freedoms," Ekstrom said.

He hoped the committee could provide a place for "... Three or four hours for service members to forget about their struggles and stresses."

The picnic is put together entirely by the committee members and community volunteers, most of whom were once associated with the military at some point in time. Ekstrom is a former colonel who volunteers his time alongside former OO-ALC Commander Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Pat Condon.

Condon said he looks at the event as an opportunity to give back. This year, the retired major general was a greeter. In years past, he bused tables.

Every base is supportive, Condon said, but "... What I observed here is just different. The support is head and shoulders above other places I've been.

"Part of our desire on the committee is to let Airmen know that we don't take them for granted," Condon added.