Military family fun day a success

Snowflex — Military families enjoyed free snowboarding, skiing and tubing at Liberty’s Snowflex Centre. Photo provided

Liberty University Military Affairs hosted its second annual Military Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 21.

A total of 190 guests attended the event at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre, according to Military Outreach Coordinator Kathi Edinger.

Every military base in Virginia was invited to spend the day for free at Snowflex. Several military bases in D.C. and Maryland were invited to attend as well. Military families were able to enjoy free skiing, snowboarding and tubing and were also provided a catered lunch.

Edinger directed the event and felt it was a great way to show appreciation for Virginia military.

“It is important to show appreciation for all they sacrificed to secure our freedom,” Edinger said.

Edinger said it was a day of relaxation for the military families as they enjoyed the Snowflex activities and free ice skating at LaHaye Ice Center.

According to Edinger, two Liberty military support groups helped coordinate the Military Family Fun Day—Students Behind our Soldiers (SBS), which regularly sends care packages to the military personnel all over the world, and Silent Ranks with a Vision (SRV), which provides support for military spouses.

“Students Behind Our Soldiers (SBS) came to the event to assist with Community Service (CSER) hours, but also to give more meaning to what their group is about, to be students actually supporting our military,” Edinger said.

It was significant for the military families to see the student groups involved, according to Edinger.

“It allows the military to see Liberty has military support groups,” Edinger said.

SBS member Meredith Gilbert said the group worked with registration, setting up lunch and handing out free Liberty paraphernalia.

“This shows we are proactive in showing support for the military,” Gilbert said.

The SRV actively supports the military as well, specifically providing support for military spouses, fiancées and girlfriends, according to Edinger.

“I believe it was good for our military guests to see that they can also be a part of this support group and that it’s not just for Liberty students, but that we are also reaching out to the community,” Edinger said.

Drewcilla Shumake Holifield, a member of SRV, said the SRV set up a booth at the event and spoke with most of the military wives who attended.

“We asked these women questions about what needs they are not getting met in this area. We were able to direct many of the wives to our group for community and to another Sunday school group at TRBC,” Holifield said.

According to Holifield, the Military Family Fun Day was an opportunity for SRV to make connections with military wives.

“We are part of the military ourselves, so it was nice to be involved with other women who have the same needs and desires we have. The military life is not normal, and it was wonderful to meet with other women who understand the struggles we also face,” Holifield said.

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