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Despite a venue change from the Chapel lawn to Little Hall the night before the event, the annual Easter egg hunt organized by Marine Corps Community Services was well attended.

Photo by Eve A. Baker

Rain can’t dampen Easter egg hunt, activities fun and frolic

2 Apr 2015 | Eve A. Baker Marine Corps Base Quantico

Despite a venue change from the Chapel lawn to Little Hall the night before the event, the annual Easter egg hunt organized by Marine Corps Community Services was well attended. The recently melted snow and heavy rainfall — and perhaps the large flock of geese in residence — have left the front and side lawns of the Chapel a soggy, muddy mess, so the event was moved to Little Hall to accommodate the crowd and keep people dry.

The event kicked off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and the egg hunt was only a small part of the fun. The primarily indoor event began with the children following the Easter bunny around the theater, doing the Bunny Hop. Next came the Chicken Dance at the front of the theater, and then the contests began.

First up was the adorable Easter bonnet fashion show. Both girls and boys lined up on stage in their Easter hats, some store-bought and others designed at home. They stepped forward one by one, some shyly and some with big smiles and waves.

Zoey, 3, earned the “most charming” award for her tall hat decorated with a chick balloon and flowers. Alexia, 5, won the “most colorful” award for her Peep-covered hat, and James, 5, earned the “most comical” award for his ballcap-style Easter hat and hilarious Easter boogie when his name was called. Each child won a filled Easter basket as a prize.

The parent-child egg toss was next and held in two shifts, one for children ages eight and up, and one for children seven and under. Keith Bell and his son Jackson, 8, and Maj. Stuart Fugler and his son Austin, 7, were the winners. The Easter egg roll, which seemed more like Easter egg hockey, came and went quickly, with John Joseph, 8, and Mary, 4, winning their respective rounds.

All throughout the event, retired Master Sgt. Manny Vega, an employee of Marine Corps Systems Command and professional disc jockey, kept the events moving with an upbeat selection of kid-friendly music. At long last though, much to the excitement of the children, the event they had all been waiting for — the Easter egg hunt itself — began. There were hunts both outside on the Little Hall lawn and inside the theater divided by age groups.

Within mere minutes, the children were released, and eggs disappeared into baskets.

One little boy, however, didn’t get out to the lawn in time and missed the chance to pick up any eggs of his own. When an observant mother saw his empty basket as he and his mother headed back to the car, she quickly called over her children and their friends and asked them to share with him. All five of them cheerfully complied and gave him several eggs each without a moment’s hesitation; his happiness and gratefulness were plastered all over his face.

— Writer: ebaker@quanticosentryonline.com








Marine Corps Base Quantico