FORT BENNING, Ga. (March 26, 2018) -- Spring is here and with it comes the annual Fort Benning Spring EGGstravangaza hosted by the Fort Benning Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Service members, civilians and there Family members attended the festivities, March 24, which started at 8:30 a.m. with a one-mile Bunny Run at the Fort Benning Doughboy Stadium, followed by the EGGstravanganza on the lawn of Riverside on post.
Major Gen. Gary M. Brito, the commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, began the hunt with remarks and blew the ceremonial whistle to signify the beginning of the first hunt.
Brito said it's always nice to see Families come together, and it reminded him of the many hunts he participated in with his children when they were younger.
The egg hunt was broken up by age groups from 18 months up to 10 years old.
Melanie Raines, whose husband is a part of the 194th Armor Brigade here, said this is their third year participating in the EGGstravaganza.
"Our daughter has a great time and is always excited," Raines said. "It's good for the Families to get out and have something to do here locally instead of having to drive into Columbus."
For the first time this year, the event included two egg hunts for the Fort Benning Exceptional Family Member Program community.
Renee Richardson, who serves as the Army Community Service EFMP coordinator, said Family members with children in the program expressed the need to have a smaller hunt that was less crowded and less stressful.
"MWR did an amazing job in working with us to create an environment that was still involved with the event but off to the side, so that it's not so many people where it's overwhelming," Richardson said. "We have almost 2,000 Exceptional Family Members assigned at Fort Benning, so with that number, we want to make sure that we have things right here at home for them to come out and enjoy."
Tremayne Thomas' Family has participated in the EGGstravanganza for four years, and were especially glad to see the inclusion of the EFMP hunt this year.
"A lot of the EFMP members are not open to all of the excitement, so this allows Family members who have children with special needs to participate in their own event and to be at their own pace," said Thomas, whose 15-year-old son is in the program. "I think this was really good, and I hope they keep it going. It makes the Family with EFMP members feel included."
Related Links:
Benning News on the Army News Service
PHOTO ALBUM: Fort Benning EGGstravaganza
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