PATRIOTIC PUMPKIN PARTY
Article and pictures by Alan Edwards 

On October 27th the Veterans and Family Support (VFS) committee, which is composed of VFW, Military Family Readiness Groups (FRG) and other veterans support groups, served as inspiration and organizer for a “Patriotic Pumpkin Party” at Jacobs Park in Tucson. Advertised as a “Pumpkin Party” it was really just a fun afternoon for the kids: Haunted House, Prize-Wheel; Obstacle Course; Face Painting; Ring-Toss; and a Bean-bag toss were the crowd favorites. The kids even had fun using Park facilities. It isn’t clear which event the kids enjoyed the most, it was all fun! Based on registration (some attendees didn’t sign-up) over 200 adults and kids enjoyed a really great afternoon!

Virtually all components of the “VFS-family” contributed to this event: Obstacle course and ‘fishing-for-eyes’ pond were provided by FRG-1/285; WAATS-FRG provided face painting; the American Legion Post and Auxiliary #7 provided Hot Dogs; FRG-2/180th ran a fishing booth; VFW Auxiliary 10188 provided the Haunted House; LAVFW-10188 and 1/285th family members provided refreshments; Arizona National Guard 2/180th displayed a Howitzer gun and a hummer; Operation Military Kids provided Halloween bags and ‘Paper Hug’ book projects; FRG-640th provided Pop Corn; Women of the Moose (WOTM) members helped with the BBQ; and representatives of the Blue Star Mothers (Arizona Chapter) also helped out. Youth volunteers organized the Haunted House.

 VFW volunteers were actively engaged in virtually all activities: Post-10188 President Eileen Bedel and Commander Mike O’Daniels with 13 members including VFS Chair Kim Sloan her husband Vince, son Michael and Daughter-in-Law (and LAVFW-10188 Chaplain) Agnes; Department Senior Vice President and LAVFW-549 President Mary ‘Ronnie’ Heinemann with 3 members including Department VAVS Representative Lucille Lombardo; District-5 President Pam Spencer with her family; LAVFW-10008 PDP Berniece Welch; and Marana-5990 LAVFW President Brenda Price.

Slideshow of event

 Auxiliary-549 president, and Department Vice President, ‘Ronnie’ Heinemann with Auxiliary-549, and VAVS Representative, Lucille Lombardo served as ‘Da Judges’ for the Patriotic Pumpkin carving contest held at Jacobs Park in Tucson. Prizes for most Patriotic Pumpkin were awarded to: 1st Place tie to Reeve Platte (whose husband is serving in Afghanistan) and Bertha Topar (whose son is serving in Afghanistan); 2nd Place Chrissy Harlan (Auxiliary-10188 and 640th Unit-Mom, whose son is serving in Afghanistan); and 3rd place to 5 year old Omar Sotelo who made a pumpkin for his Dad, Omar Senior, who is currently serving in Afghanistan. 

VFW Auxiliary volunteers take a break at the Pumpkin Party held at Jacobs Park in Tucson (L-R): LAVFW 10008 Treasurer and PDP Bernice Welch; LAVFW 549 President ‘Ronnie’ Heinemann ; LAVFW 549 member and VAVS Representative Lucille Lombardo; LAVFW 549 (and PDP) Linda Link; and seated is LAVFW 10188 member Claudia Munoz whose husband is currently deployed with the 158th Infantry.

VFW-10188 volunteers take a break at the Pumpkin party in Tucson (L-R): Chrissy Harlan and Geneva Malone with Post Commander and VAVS Representative, Mike O’Daniels.

 Pictured (on the left) is Auxiliary-10188 Treasurer and VFS Chair, and event organizer, Kim Sloan with her son Michael and Daughter-in-Law (and Auxiliary-10188 Chaplain) Agnes, at the Pumpkin Party held at Jacobs Park in Tucson. Not shown is Kim’s husband, Vince, who was busy at the BBQ.

VFW-549 volunteers Dean Agardi and ‘Ronnie’ Heinneman “man the wheel” at the Pumpkin Party held at Jacobs Park in Tucson.

Pictured are some of the youth volunteers who tried their best, and were very successful, in ensuring that kids enjoyed the Haunted House at the Pumpkin Party held at Jacobs Park in Tucson. 

FRG-1/285 Chair Andrea Frea (on the left) supervises kids going through the ‘obstacle course’ at the Pumpkin Party held at Jacobs Park in Tucson.