Despite gathering clouds, fog and the threat of thunderstorms, the 10th annual celebration of the Month of the Military Child at Victor Constant Ski Slope May 9 found more than 200 community members attending the event.

The event is West Point's celebration of the national Month of the Military Child, which included a variety of events including temporary tattooing, face painting, horseback riding and getting up close and personal with some wild animals from New York state wildlife expert and science teacher at Saugerties High School Brian Robinson.

The annual event is hosted by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

The MOMC event recognizes the importance and the contributions military children make to a Family because of the uncertainty they endure with moving every few years or having one or both parents deployed.

It lets the children know how important Family is to a Soldier.

The Month of the Military Child was started in April 1987 by then Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger.

"We have been here for two years and this is the first time we have been to this event," Mijin Roux said. "My son, Isaiah, is the right age to enjoy these events."

Anna Mayo said she went to the celebration last year with her child, who was then just 3 months old.

"This is certainly a bargain," Mayo said. "Where else can you go for $15 for four people and get hamburgers, hotdogs and get involved in the fun events for children'"

Mayo's son Bowen, 15 months, seemed enchanted with the giraffe moon bounce.

There were some yucky moments when wildlife expert Robinson fed a mouse to an owl to show how quick the owl can eat while explaining how the owl's digestive tract works.

Still, the children were fascinated and learned something, too.