JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- It didn't matter if they had ties to Ireland or not, everyone was Irish March 17.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation organized a St. Patrick's Day celebration to coincide with the annual St. Patty's Day run.
Nearly 600 runners dressed in their best green ran the 5K or 10K run at 9 a.m. despite the snow and rainy conditions. Soon after the race traditional Irish music performed by Tiller's Folly filled the FMWR tent on Lewis Main. While some runners chose to recover from the race with fruit and water, others, along with their family and friends warmed up with bangers and mash (Irish sausage and potatoes). Those of age even enjoyed Irish stout beer after the race.
"Anytime you can get away with drinking a pint of beer is a good day," Alan Anderson said.
The Airman runs a race every month and chose the St. Patty's Day race for March. When asked if the Airman is Irish he responded, "I am today."
As the music played the wee lads danced on the open dance floor in a venue decorated in Irish flags and plenty 'o green. Jesse and Rachelle Border just had a baby a couple months ago and thought the St. Patty's Day run would be a fun event the whole family could enjoy.
"We thought of this as a nice way to get back into things," Jesse Border said.
The Vaughns were another family who chose the St. Patty's Day race as their first run of the year -- or ever as was the case for Sonja Vaughn. They chose to run the first race on the JBLM FMWR race calendar. Thirteen-year-old Braydon Vaughn led the family with the best finish, running the 5K in 34 minutes, 38 seconds.
Irish-themed door prizes were raffled throughout the morning and hats were sold to those who forgot to wear their green.
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