RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Richard Bautista, left, prepared balloon art for Breanna Greene, right, Eugene Grace and Brihany Graham yesterday during Military Ohana Day at Kapiolani Park. The event was organized by the city and several community groups.
Troops, families spend
quality time togetherMilitary Ohana Day is a time for
fun before soldiers' Mideast duty
Gobby Brockway made sure to bring disposable cameras along to capture her daughter and husband during a day of fun and memories at Kapiolani Park yesterday, where military families turned out for free food, rides and entertainment.
Once they're developed, Brockway's photos will be put in a scrapbook and shipped off to Iraq, where her husband, an Army staff sergeant, is being deployed this week.
"It's something he can take, memory-wise," Brockway said as she looked at her husband, Thomas.
Hundreds of military personnel and their families showed up at the park yesterday for Military Ohana Day, organized by the city and a number of community groups.
Beginning this week, 3,500 members of the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, as well as another 500 Tropic Lightning helicopter pilots, support personnel and medics, will leave the island to spend a year in Iraq.
Many soldiers leaving for the country and their families agreed that yesterday was a difficult day for them. But they also said they were happy to spend it together.
"It's tough," said Tanya Voss.
Her husband, Michael, is an Army captain and is expected to leave for Iraq in a week. The couple has twin 2-year-olds, and yesterday the boys were riding on a roundabout swing as their parents looked on.
"We're pretty much trying to organize," and prepare the kids for their father's deployment, Tanya Voss said.
A number of local entertainers performed at yesterday's event as companies handed out free goodies and kids enjoyed rides, huge inflatables and face painting.
As the Royal Hawaiian Band played at the Waikiki Bandstand, Sgt. Marc Deist, his wife and their two teenage daughters ate orange cream Popsicles under a nearby shade tree.
"I'm nervous about going," said Deist, who is headed to Iraq. "It's just nice to know the community is showing support. It's been really rough, but we'll manage."
Master Sgt. Bradley Lee sat at a picnic table yesterday listening to music and eating brownies with his five children. With two teenagers, a 12-year-old, a 6-year-old and a 5-year-old, Lee said he appreciates the value of quality time more now that he knows he'll miss birthdays, holidays and other milestones for the 12 months that he's in Afghanistan starting in February.
Jim and Shannon Gisclair brought their two children, 6 and 4, to the event and were planning to stay for the movie "Daddy Day Care" at Sunset at the Beach after taking a quick swimming break.
"We're trying to do as much family stuff as we can," said Jim Gisclair, who will be deployed to Afghanistan in April.
Navy Petty Officer Ambrose Dawson was also trying to cram in memories for himself and his family before he's deployed in March.
Last year, he spent more than 200 days away from his wife and five kids, who range in age from 8 months to 7 years old.
"That's why you have to spend time together when you have the opportunity," he said. "It's good to do the family things."
