While dealing with record winter temperatures, snowfalls, heavy rains and chilly winds, it may have seemed as if spring would never come to Fort McPherson.
However, proving that not even Father Winter can keep military Families down, the Fort McPherson community came out Saturday to celebrate the arrival of spring with the fort's 18th annual Spring Fest on Hedekin Field.
Hosted by the Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem Child, Youth and School Services staff and featuring attractions from the U.S. Army Garrison Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation, the festival provided more than 10 different play stations - including one for infants and another for special needs children - for Families throughout the day.
Play areas included a climbing wall, a giant slide, an inflatable dragon tunnel, a bubble station, a tug of war area and a sack race station.
The festival also featured food, music and an Easter egg hunt for all of the attending children.
Susan Hogue, a secretary with U.S. Army Reserve Command G-1, who enjoyed the festivities with her son, Kameron, 5, and her niece and nephew, Kasey and Kaleb, both 11, was one of many that took part in activities.
"I came last year and had fun, so I decided to come out one last time with the whole Family," said Hogue.
In addition to providing a good time for Families, the festival also gave volunteers the opportunity to have some fun while making a positive difference in a military community.
By helping to set up stations, direct human traffic and aid in clean up, volunteers like Navy Lt. Christye Brown, an officer with the U.S. Public Health Service, worked to ensure that the day would be a success.
"I actually live in Maryland, but I have memories of times that I've stayed here," said Brown, who brought her daughter, Chaise, 5, with her to the festival.
"So when the chance came to volunteer while I was down for spring break, I took it."
Many Families attending the festival expressed gratitude that the fort was still holding events like the Spring Festival, even though Fort McPherson is scheduled to close as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act. Although many said they were sad the installation had to close, they were glad for the chance to have fun as a community.
"It's great that they're still doing things like this," said Annette Taiwo, who came to the festival with husband Lt. Col. Peter Taiwo, executive officer for the Third Army/U.S. Army Central (Third Army) chief of staff, and grandson, Zaccheo Fuehrer, 5.
"There are still many military Families here that look forward to stuff like this." Patrick Gould, the director of the USAG DFMWR, said the installations are committed to maintaining a high level of quality programs for the members of the community.
"It's all about children and the youth today," said Gould. "Despite the fact that we're closing, we won't stop providing programs that guide children toward being the young adults we want them to be."
For some Families, this year's celebration was special for more personal reasons.
"We've been here for three years and this has always been one of the best events," said Lt. Col. Jeff Jass, a watch officer with Third Army G-3 Combined Operations Intelligence Center, who enjoyed the day with his daughter, Franchesca, 5, and son, Joe, 4.
"Last Easter I had to go to Kuwait on Easter day, so even though I'm working today, it's great that I'm still on Fort McPherson with my Family. I just have to count my blessings."
The lesson to be taken away from the festival is that Families - and entire communities - can have fun in simple, yet fun ways, said Gould.
"Today has been a great opportunity for Families to bond together in a way that didn't cost very much," said Gould. "It's really been about getting back to basics."
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