Photo By Sgt. Jasmine Higgins | A patron dressed up as Catwoman scales a climbing wall during the 2015 Emerald City...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - In a vast land, far far away, known as the Pacific Northwest, a group of 25 lone heroes set out on a journey to explore and conquer the unknown ... meet the unexplained ... and to uncover what was know as the premier comic book and pop culture convention, the 2015 Emerald City Comicon!
Soldiers assigned to units throughout Joint Base Lewis-McChord, at the invitation of the Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers program, attend the 2015 Emerald City Comicon held at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, March 28.
One of the primary missions of the BOSS program is to enhance the morale and welfare of single Soldiers, so events like the 2015 Emerald City Comicon serves as a chance to get these Soldiers out and about.
“Its good for Soldiers to get out of the barracks,” said Sgt. Hassan Lovett, vice president of the JBLM BOSS program. “A lot of Soldiers are brand new to their units, and that’s kind of what we focus on. Single Service members and the new guys that are here alone, have no family or don’t know anyone yet, so we just try to get them out, meet new people and get them accustomed to where their new livelihood is going to be.”
The JBLM BOSS program gathered 25 single Soldiers out of the barracks and got them exposed to something new, The 2015 Emerald City Comicon, which happened to be one of BOSS’ most popular events, according to Lovett.
“It sold out two days after we opened it, which is letting us know we need to do it bigger next year!,” he said.
The Emerald City Comicon is know for being a fan-oriented and comic-focused show, in which patrons get to meet and interact with celebrity guests and also get to take part in the festivities by dressing up as their favorite characters.
“There has been some really great costumes out there, some really innovative things,” said Spc. Alice Risard, a health care specialist with 84th Civil Affairs Battalion, 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade. “It's surprising how much people get into their costumes.”
The Soldiers not only witnessed the many patrons that strolled the halls as “Teen Titans”, “The Hobbit” and “Lady Sif or Thor”, but some actually took part and became part of the show also.
“We got about three who dressed up; Pikachu from Pokémon [and] the Punisher [were among the three],” said Lovett.
Though not every Soldier may know whom “Thrall” or “The Queen of the Reef” is exactly, the event provides an alternative experience, to do something different.
“It’s my first time here, and I’m enjoying it very much,” said Lovett. “I didn’t really know it was going to be like this, but next year I’ll be prepared, I might even dress up in a costume myself.
The JBLM BOSS program acts as a host to many different types of events in which single Soldiers are urged to attend, and many events, like the 2015 Emerald City Comicon, have the same response from Soldiers when asked about their counterparts opting to stay behind.
“They need to get out of their rooms,” said Risard. “Especially to come out here!”
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2015 16:45 |
| Story ID: | 158847 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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