MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO -- Marines and their families attended the 2nd Annual Fall Festival hosted at Weapons Training Battalion on Oct. 19, 2013, to relax and learn more about each other, while building espirit de corps.
“[The event] gives everyone [at] Weapons Training Battalion a chance to meet each other, while building a sense of community,” said Joann Dinwoodie, family readiness officer, WTBn. “The Marines are the driving force for the event.”
The festival included a pumpkin-carving competition, trunk or treat, cooking contest, and several displays for children. The trunk or treat event allows residents to decorate the back of their cars and hand out treats to the children.
“The festival is tailored so that everyone in the family can have a good time,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Troy Sawyer, battalion operations chief, WTBn. “Every event that we have held since the first fall festival, has increased in number every time.”
The festival started exactly one year ago, on Oct. 19, by Weapons Training Battalion’s commanding officer Col. Glenn Guenther.
“It’s all for the family,” said Capt. Marshall Vaeth, operations officer, WTBn. “ The event allows the Marines to spend time with their families, because some of the Marines at Weapons Training Battalion have recently returned from combat tours.”
Guenther’s goal when he took command of WTBn. was to strengthen family bonds and foster a stronger community.
“This event was [made] by Marines for the Marines,” said Guenther. “[The event turned out] better than I could have hoped for and Weapons Training Battalion is definitely a place where families are welcomed, especially during an event like this.”
Correspondent: cuong.le@usmc.mil