FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Gerlach Field was transformed from a football field into a child’s fantasyland on Saturday for Fort Leonard Wood’s Month of the Military Child Palooza.
“Military children are the youngest members of our Armed Forces. We ask a lot from these children,” said Megan O’Donoghue, Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation director. “These children are some of the most resilient youth we know, but it comes at a cost, and for that, we should honor them, thank them and let them know how truly special they are.”
O’Donoghue said FMWR’s Child and Youth Services organized the event with the support of 28 other organizations. Some of the participants include the 399th Army Band, Missouri Department of Conservation, USO, Exceptional Family Member Program, Truman Education Center, Defense Commissary Agency, several divisions of the Directorate of Public Works and the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence NCO Academy.
With 41 interactive stations, children could walk from booth to booth, filling their goodie bags with free toys, snacks, books, crafts, piggy banks and even a cypress tree to take home and plant.
The youngsters got to push buttons, turn on sirens and honk the horns of seven vehicles provided by Fort Leonard Wood’s Directorate of Emergency Services, 58th Transportation Battalion and the Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering Detachment.
Children also enjoyed taking photos and having a dance party with several characters, such as McGruff the Crime Dog and Clean Water Casey, from the DPW Environmental Division.
“The mascot dance-off is always a highlight — who knew Clean Water Casey had those dance moves?” O’Donoghue asked.
The main staging area was buzzing with the energy of non-stop music, bubble blowing, dancing and prize giveaways. When six-year-old Isabella Johnston stopped by the main stage, she was asked to name five pizza toppings on the loudspeaker for a prize. She succeeded, adding, “my favorite is cheese.”
Johnston was excited to win a prize, but said her favorite thing at the event was the obstacle course.
Capt. Zachary Hall, commander of Company C, 554th Engineer Battalion, brought his family to the MOMC Palooza.
“The Child Development Center that they both go to suggested we come out today,” Hall said. “They are having the best time on the obstacle courses. They also really enjoyed the train ride.”
Originally from Vancouver, Washington, Hall said the MOMC event was a good opportunity to remind military children why they are incredibly important.
“Military kids have to travel with their parents because our jobs are changing constantly. This is an awesome way to celebrate them,” Hall said.
His wife, once a military child, herself, agreed.
“They are serving, too. It is a challenging lifestyle, but also has a lot of benefits — like today’s celebration,” Medora Hall said.
O’Donoghue said she enjoyed participating in the balloon and bubble launch and watching the children get excited about all the activities. She recalled one special moment that warmed her heart.
“A little girl came up and thanked us for putting on the event,” O’Donoghue said. “In FMWR, we strive to make a difference in the Fort Leonard Wood community every day and seeing the little girl’s smile and thank you confirmed that we are.”
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