FORT RILEY, Kan. -- Fifteen thousand Easter eggs were hidden for Fort Riley children outside of Riley's Conference Center for the annual Easter Egg Hunt April 8.
Hundreds of Families attended the event, which was coordinated by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, with hundreds more also dining at Riley's Conference Center for its Easter brunch.
The eggs were filled with candy, toys and a handful of golden tickets that gave the lucky finders the opportunity to win bicycles or other prizes.
Spc. Arron Peterson, mechanic, Troop E, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, brought his daughters -- Arrionna, 8, and Taylor, 3, to the event.
"It was fun watching my babies go hunting for the eggs," he said. "It's a nice environment. We came here last year, and it's a lot more organized this year. I'm glad it's like this. It allows me to bring my kids out and interact with other children and all that good stuff."
Peterson said he appreciates the Family events DFMWR provides during the holidays.
"I've noticed that for every major holiday, (DFMWR) always does something, and it's always great," he said. "I like it a lot. Not being here all the time with my kids, and to be able to enjoy the holidays with them at a great event like this, it's really good."
Duane Clayton, recreation programmer, DFMWR, coordinated the egg hunt.
"Things went pretty well," he said. "It's a nice, bright sunny day. We had a lot of kids come out. Kids were here at 11 o'clock, and activities didn't start until noon, so that was a little interesting. We've had a lot of kids here all day enjoying themselves in their Easter outfits and Easter costumes."
While not hunting for eggs, a variety of activities were available for children of all age groups.
"We've got some inflatables set up, Child, Youth and School Services has some activities set up like horseshoes, bubbles and sidewalk chalk, and the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard is out here providing mule rides," Clayton said.
Children also took turns coloring a Month of the Military Child mural and posing for photographs with the Easter Bunny.
"A lot of people always make sure that they spend time with their Families (for Easter)," Clayton said. "This is an opportunity for the core nucleus of a Family that might be stationed away from their extended Family to come out and have an opportunity to see their kids enjoy themselves and remember the importance of Easter. It's an opportunity to bring Families out, boost their morale and increase the resiliency within the Families because it is a very Family-oriented holiday."
About 850 people ate a buffet brunch at Riley's Conference Center, which featured peel-and-eat shrimp.
"(The Easter brunch) is one of the bigger brunches we do each year," said Chris Downs, manager, Riley's Conference Center.
Reservations for the brunch filled up. Downs said he encourages anybody who plans on attending the Mother's Day Brunch May 13 to make reservations early by calling 785-784-1000.
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