Did you come out to Boots & Brews, our Armed Forces Celebration? If you didn’t make it, you can vicariously experience the fun through the highlight reel above.
The AB picnic area was packed with activities. After the opening ceremony featuring our Honor Guard, a lovely rendition of our national anthem, and remarks from 628th ABW Commander Col. Marc Greene, Youth Programs kicked off the celebration with the America’s Kid’s Run, sponsored by Crews Subaru.
America’s Kids Run began in 1986. It was created to keep kids excited about running and encourage them to make ambitious goals. Typical races were too far of a distance for children to participate, so a kid’s run with shorter distances was the solution. It has been popular on military bases ever since, and is an annual tradition here at Joint Base Charleston. We had runners of all ages, as well as some stroller and carrier riders, too. There were even a few furry, four-legged runners. Kids and parents put on their tees and bibs and got blasted with colored powder, which you can see in our Flickr album! The pictures are terrific; if you were a runner, make sure to find and download your photo!
If the kids were tired after the race, we couldn’t tell. The mechanical bull had steady lines and Joint Base Charleston Fire & Emergency Services had the firetruck and bounce house out for exploration and enjoyment. Texas Roadhouse generously handed out sidewalk chalk and goodies to kids of all ages. The Little White Photo Box was on site, offering silly, photo-booth style photos for free. Even Charlie the Riverdog made it out to see us, meeting and greeting kiddos with hugs and high fives.
Many local organizations were gracious enough to support our Joint Base Charleston community, too. The U.S. Coast Guard gave boat tours. Many families took advantage of the opportunity to explore our mini C-17. The Boy Scouts from Troop 484 stood ready to teach knots and show off their fun adventures. Our military community had the opportunity to view a parade float used by the US Submarine Veterans Inc., Charleston Base. We even got to sit and enjoy a K9 display from Security Forces.
Crews Chevrolet sponsored our band, Zero to Never, which made for great entertainment as everyone enjoyed food and a beer. Sponsors First Command and USAA had games and goodies for all the attendees who stopped by their tents.
This year’s new addition to our celebration was the Craft Beer Tasting courtesy of Southern Crown. People interested in the craft beer tasting were able to buy tickets and taste up to 20 different brews. One ticket included six tastings and a commemorative beer glass and koozie. Craft beer fans enjoyed IPAs, sours, and other brews on hand. It was a terrific opportunity to try beers from several breweries in our area.
If you attended the Craft Beer Tasting, we want to hear from you! Please fill out our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GT3TQ2B
