FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Friday night can be a special night where some Families dine in their favorite restaurant to spend some quality time together. It's no secret that there are plenty of places to eat in the communities surrounding Fort Drum; however, it's not necessary to travel too far.
Soldiers assigned to 10th Sustainment Brigade hosted a Family Night at the Muleskinner Consolidated Dining Facility during the dinner service Jan. 25 in order to connect with Families and share great food.
Jose A. Roman, a DFAC manager assigned to 7th Engineer Battalion, said the idea for the event came from several Soldiers assigned to the DFAC as well as brigade staff.
"The main purpose of the Family Night is to bring Soldiers and Families together," Roman said.
There was a station where children could get their faces painted and another where they could make their own sandwiches. Avalanche, an element of the 10th Mountain Division Band, provided musical entertainment for the night.
"Tonight was excellent," Roman said. "A lot of Families came, kids enjoyed getting their faces pain-ted, and the music was great. We got a lot of positive feedback from the Families."
Roman said the turnout was more than double what they normally get during lunch, their busiest time of the day. More than 700 people came to support the event.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Yessenia Johnson, 10th Sustainment Brigade food adviser, said she would like for people to stop thinking of the DFAC as a traditional military structure and to see it as a place where Soldiers, Families and friends of the community can gather to not only eat but bond.
"The reality is that the dining facility has great food and a variety of drinks people can choose from for a reasonable price," she said.
Johnson said she believes the Families enjoyed the night mostly because they were spending quality time and sharing a unique dining experience. They were at a place where they could eat, talk and enjoy each other's company.
Roman and Johnson expressed their gratitude toward the Soldiers, Families, the division, the chain of command and the numerous people who supported the event.
Family Nights will be held every last Friday of the month. There also will be special occasions where food service personnel will go above and beyond to ensure Soldiers and Families have an exceptional dining experience.
"This is just the beginning," Johnson said.
Social Sharing