As several children sat down along a sidewalk on a hot summer day, their mothers smiled, and together they enjoyed a day of fun in the sun.
Spouses of deployed Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division assembled on Devil Field during a family fun day, June 20.
The 2-504 "White Devils" organized and hosted a fun day to support Paratroopers and their Families. An emphasis was placed on supporting spouses while their loved ones are deployed. The intent for the event was to get Families together, build an additional source of camaraderie, and afford an opportunity for those Families to interact with one another.
Families in attendance were provided with food, activities for the children, and entertainment for the adults. Although the heat was in full force, the Families maintained smiles on their faces, and spent time getting to know each other.
Katherine Washington-Williams, Commander of the North Carolina National Association for Black Veterans Women's Chapter 0061, said she is happy to see the Families getting along and enjoying the event.
"This shows Families that we are all a team," said Williams. "I think this brings them peace within to know that there are other people who care about them and want to show support while they deal with something as hard as a deployment."
Williams and her team raised five-hundred dollars through donation for the event. She said that her organization adopted 2-504 PIR as a unit about a month ago, and that she is glad to help support the Families in any way possible.
1st Lt. Jason Parks, rear detachment commander of 2-504 PIR, says that the spouses of deployed Paratroopers should be afforded opportunities to reach out to others who are in the same situation.
"As a military child, my dad was gone at times, and I know how important it was for my mother to be able to find others who could relate to her," said Parks. "It's a really good event to get everyone together to socialize, possibly exchange numbers, and allow their kids to make new friends…it's a really good bonding event for our battalion."
Parks believes the event served a number of purposes and that it has been extremely effective in showing Families that the unit cares about them.
"I think this event means a lot to them [deployed Paratroopers]….to see their Families are doing well, and that they are finding ways to enjoy themselves" said Parks. "Overseas you're focused on your mission, but you're also very focused on your Family back home, and you want to make sure they are ok."
Williams says she knows what it is like to be gone from home and away from the ones you care about. This is why she dedicates her time to assisting Paratroopers and their Families. She was happy to help her adopted unit and see so many people decided to show up.
"I'm also seeing Families here from all of the different companies, said Parks. "I've seen everyone enjoying themselves and I think we'll try to do more of these in the future."
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