Utah ANG celebrates Family Day

  • Published
  • By Airmen 1st Class Lillian Chatwin
  • 151st ARW/PA
SALT LAKE CITY --  The Utah Air National Guard celebrated Family Day on base Aug. 1. 

For the first time in three years, Utah Air Guardsmen were able to bring their loved ones on base to enjoy "Family Day," an event dedicated to families. The festivities included live music, food, activities for the kids, KC-135 refueling tanker fly-bys, aircraft static displays and numerous military and unit exhibits. 

Families were able to see where Guard members work, get an idea of what they do and meet their co-workers. 

"Family Day gives units a chance to open up their houses and say here's what we do," said Capt. Bruce Lewis, 151st Air Refueling Wing budget officer and Family Day coordinator. 

Master Sgt. Mark Pendleton, 151st Mission Support Flight, expressed the importance of Family Day, "The whole emphasis of the Air National Guard is family, and I think having an event like this not only helps them see what their spouses do, but it enables them to meet other Guardsmen and reinforces the whole Guard family." 

Sgt. Pendleton's wife, Valita Pendleton, agreed and said, "Family Day is important not only because it helps inform us about the job our spouses do, but because it helps us understand why our spouses have to leave once a month." 

Valita Pendleton also said the event was a lot bigger than she was expecting, and she was impressed with all the fun activities for the kids. 

Coordinating this event took several months of planning with a large committee of volunteers from each squadron, and Captain Lewis attributes the success of Family Day to the hard work of the committee. 

"There were a lot of people who came in, even on the last hour when we really needed the help," said Captain Lewis. "They really stepped up and got everything done to make this a very successful event."