Special offers salute military Families' sacrifice during Military Family Month

By Walt Johnson (Fort Carson)November 20, 2014

Special offers salute military Families' sacrifice during Military Family Month
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Special offers salute military Families' sacrifice during Military Family Month
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Patrick Hernandez, team lead at the Outdoor Recreation Equipment Checkout Center, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, installs bindings on a snowboard Nov. 14. The center offers 10 percent off rental rates ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Special offers salute military Families' sacrifice during Military Family Month
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FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The sacrifices military Families make supporting their Soldiers do not go unnoticed.Fort Carson's Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (DFMWR) staff salutes Families throughout November with free and discounted offers at its facilities in celebration of Military Family Month.

"DFMWR's mission is to support Soldiers and their Families," said Anne Connor, DFMWR special events coordinator. "Military Families are the backbone of the Army, so we want to take advantage of any chance we have to show our appreciation."

Congress designated November as Military Family Month in 1999 to ensure the public was given an opportunity to demonstrate its appreciation for the sacrifices made by Family members in support of their Service members. Each year the president makes a proclamation (printed on Page 2) reminding Americans of the important role military Families play.

Michael J. O'Donnell, director, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, said his staff's role is to ensure it supports Soldiers and Family members and the new Total Army Strong commitment.

"All our programs are designed to support and promote physical, emotional, social, family and spiritual strengths," he said.

O'Donnell said DFMWR takes pride in serving those who serve the nation on a daily basis, and in November to honor their Family members who share in that sacrifice.

There is still time to take advantage of the special offers. Cheyenne Mountain Shooting Complex offers 50 percent off its normal daily fee for ages 6 and older Tuesday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Outdoor Recreation Equipment Checkout Center offers 10 percent off rental rates to include skis and snowboards. The center is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Families can wash cars inside the Auto Skills center for free on Sundays; the offer includes hoses, soap, buckets and use of a vacuum. The Ivy Irish Pub offers its Friday night fish fry for half-price from 4-9 p.m. Friday is the last of five days for military Families to take advantage of free golf at the Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club. Adventure Programs and Education offers $10 (50 percent off) climbing wall certification classes for ages 14 and older from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The three-week Fall FamAthon concludes Saturday. The competition awards Families points for each fitness activity they participate in with a chance to win a Thanksgiving basket.

Other Military Family Month events included a free 5- and 10-kilometer Turkey Trot run with a turkey raffle; a free story time event at the Grant Library which featured the reading of two stories, learning activities, singalongs and snacks; and three free games of cosmic bowling at the bowling alley.

Visit http://www.mwrfortcarson.com for more information on DFMWR's Military Family Month activities.