Day Of Fun Center

FORT BLISS MONITOR • JULY 30, 2009 • 15B14B • JULY 30, 2009 • FORT BLISS MONITOR

Soldiers and family members fromHeadquarters and HeadquartersBattery, 32nd Army Air and Missile

Defense Command, were able to let looseand enjoy a day of fun-filled activities duringtheir organizational day, held July 17 at KellyPark.

The day kicked off with a gung-ho gameof basketball where Soldiers and familymembers battled for the championship.

While the adults were battling on thecourts, the children were competing to win aPlaystation 2 in a tournament of Guitar Hero.

This video game tournament was run byStaff Sgt. Michael Abrams, who is a platoonsergeant for HHB, 32nd AAMDC.

“I think the kids really enjoyed them-selves. At first it didn’t look like it was goingto be a hit, then I had a crowd and couldn’tkeep them away,” said Abrams.

The basketball game was then followed bya grueling game of volleyball, where theSoldiers and family members bruised andscraped their knees in order to keep the ballin play.

“There was really good sportsmanship outhere today. It was nice because it was notrank-oriented and we got to interact with oneanother on a personal level,” said Spc.Fernando Gilday, an intelligence analystassigned to HHB, 32nd AAMDC.

After competitive games of basketball andvolleyball, the Soldiers and their familiesenjoyed activities and festivities that weresponsored by the El Paso community. Thechildren bounced and jumped in the bouncingballoons that were provided by Family andMorale, Welfare and Recreation.

“The El Paso community really helpedcontribute to making our organizational day asuccess,” said 2nd Lt. Edwin Gonzalez, theexecutive officer for HHB, 32nd AAMDC.

The Soldiers and family members dinedfrom a buffet line of food that included hotdogs, hamburgers, ribs and other tastycuisines.

“Gus Rodriguez, who is the president ofthe Association of the United States Army,provided the food for our organizationalday,” said Gonzalez.

After lunch, several Soldiers and theirspouses had an opportunity to play the“Married Couples Game,” which was spon-sored by Cee Jay Bowker, the director ofsales and marketing for the Best WesternHotel.

The couples were asked questions abouttheir spouses, and the couple who got themost answers right was given a free weekendat the Pine Springs Inn or the Ruidoso Inn inRuidoso N.M.

“We have great respect for the military and

their families; we try to support the Soldiersin any way possible,” said Bowker. “I amvery honored and humbled that I was able toparticipate in today’s events.”

The United Service Organizations assistedin face painting and providing washable tem-porary tattoos for the children, as well ashanding out information on the services andevents the organization has to offer.

Toward the end of the day there were afew more surprises in store for the childrenand the adults.

The unit had provided piñatas with good-ies for the childen and adults to hit ... or atleast try to hit. The piñatas the childen aimedfor were stuffed with candy, and the elusivedollar-bill-shaped piñata for the adults wasfilled with gift cards to the Post Exchange.

“I think this is the best organizational dayI have ever been to and I have been in theArmy for 17 years,” said Sgt. 1st ClassConnie Fassler, the spouse of Master Sgt.Jeremiah Fassler, who is the chief paralegalfor HHB, 32nd AAMDC.

As the event drew to a close, and Soldiersand family members began to leave the park,the organizational day’s purpose of providinga day of fun-filled activities and camaraderiewas a task that they all considered missioncomplete.

Brig. Gen. RobertWoods, the com-

manding general ofthe 32nd Army Air

and MissileDefense Command,

takes the time toget to know Spc.Kevin Crespo, an

executive assistantfor Headquarters

and HeadquartersBattery, 32nd

AAMDC, and hisfamily during an

organizational dayat Kelly Park July

17.

Staff Sgt. Eyda Glover, a humanresources sergeant for Headquarters

and Headquarters Battery, 32ndArmy Air and Missile DefenseCommand, holds her son PeteSmith as he gets his face paint-ed by a United ServiceOrganizations representativeduring an organizational dayheld at Kelly Park July 17.

Lexy, the goddaughterof Sgt. Maj. Elaine

Cellurs-White, thelogistics sergeant

major for 32nd ArmyAir and Missile

Defense Command,explores the piñatas dur-

ing an organizational dayheld at Kelly Park July 17.

Staff Sgt. Michael Abrams, center, a platoon sergeantfor Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 32dArmy Air and Missile Defense Command, guides thechildren of HHB, 32nd AAMDC, Soldiers as they com-pete during a Guitar Hero competition held at KellyPark July 17.

Master Sgt. Jeremiah Fassler, the chief paralegal for 32ndArmy Air and Missile Defense Command, and his wife Sgt.1st Class Connie Fassler sit and relax as they watch anintense game of volleyball during an organizational day atKelly Park July 17.

Col. Timothy Starke, left, the senior commu-nications officer / assistant chief of staff for32nd Army Air and Missile DefenseCommand, and Spc. Calvin Vaught, a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned toHeadquarters and Headquarters Battery,32nd AAMDC, soar in the air as they fight forthe ball during an organizational day held atKelly Park July 17.