Weekend Pass

Armed forces day on the way

Fun, food and football to be enjoyed May 19

Jessica Hall/Northwest Guardian

Joint Base Lewis-McChord will celebrate Armed Forces Day May 19 with activities for the whole family. The installation will be open to the public to learn about the military and what the Soldiers and Airmen here at JBLM do every day.

The all-day event will feature live entertainment, a football game, volksmarch, bounce houses and food. There will also be displays of historic and current military equipment, from Roman times to today.

“My favorite thing about Armed Forces Day is it gives you a chance to see what the military is like,” Kate Laverents, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation special events director, said.

Units from across JBLM will be on hand with their equipment to promote demonstrations. In the past displays have included Strykers vehicles, artillery equipment and weapons systems.

Live entertainment will include performances by Foggy Bottom Dixieland Jazz, 2nd Edition & the Rangers and Tacoma Scots Bagpipers. There will also be a Civil War battle re-enactment at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Part of the re-enactment will include live cannon fire.

New to this year’s event is a flag football game between the Everett Reign and Tacoma Trauma. The Tacoma Trauma is a member of the Women’s Football Alliance and Everett Reign is in the Independent Women’s Football League. The game will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Cowan Stadium.

The volksmarch will begin at 10 a.m. and feature two paths: one 5K and one 10K. The walk will go through trails through historic sections of JBLM Lewis Main and the housing areas.

Drivers without DOD credentials must park at a satellite parking lot at DuPont Gate. A shuttle bus will run between the lots and the events near Cowan and Memorial stadiums.

For more information visit: http://www.jblmmwr.com/armedforcesday.

Armed Forces Day schedule

10-10:50 a.m. – Paul and Elizabeth Stierle
11-11:50 a.m. – Tacoma Scots Bagpipers

Noon-1 p.m. – Foggy Bottom Dixieland Jazz

1-1:50 p.m. – Civil War battle re-enactment

2-2:50 p.m. – Swing Set

3-3:50 p.m. – Tacoma Scots Bagpipers

4-4:50 p.m. – 2nd Edition & the Rangers

5-5:50 p.m. – Swing Set

Emcee stage – Paul and Elizabeth Stierle

Cowan Stadium 1:30 p.m. – Ladies semi-pro football game: Everett Reign vs. Tacoma Trauma