MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Headquarter and Headquarters Squadron Marines, sailors and family members gathered at the IronWorks Gym here Dec. 11 to celebrate, the holiday season.
Approximately 700 H&HS community members attended the celebration which brought the unit together as one family.
“(Events like the Christmas party are important) so that all the H&HS families can come together and celebrate together and so we can show them that they are important to us,” said Lou Genzer, H&HS family readiness officer and event organizer. “This is just a small ‘thank you’ for all the support that (H&HS families and service members) give the command element.”
Event participants indulged their appetites on a menu offering ham, beef, mashed potatoes, Christmas cookies, cakes and more.
Party goers threw back cups of hot chocolate, apple cider and soda drinks while children ran around playing in bouncing cages or took pictures with Santa Claus.
The event also provided an artand-craft section where participants could paint, draw or make bracelets with the children.
Genzer said the Christmas party could not have been possible without volunteering community members and the working party made of approximately 30 Marines who set up the gym for the event.
While some of the volunteering community members signed up to volunteer before the event, there were a few who, inspired by the holiday spirit, decided to volunteer when they attended the event.
“It was fun,” said Lance Cpl. Jamie Anderson, a volunteer and party‑goer. “I walked up and I was one of the first customers and they needed help. So instead of getting my food, I ended up serving.”
Anderson said she thought the party helped boost morale and aid service members far from home during the holidays.
While the party was filled with family-oriented events, it was still a welcoming place for single service members.
“(The Christmas party) was not just for the families, but for all of the members of H&HS,” said Genzer. “For the service members (away from home for the first time), it kind of helps them to be in a family environment, especially around the holidays.”
“The party was great,” said Lance Cpl. Jeremy Lamb, an event participant. “You are four thousand miles away from home, you’ve got no family with you – this really helps ease some of that.”