Photo By Master Sgt. Gary Witte | Spc. Joshua W. Keener, a military police officer with Headquarters and Headquarters...... read more read more
By Sgt. Gary Witte
210th MPAD
LSA ANACONDA, Iraq – It lacked a seashore, but the crowds of people at "Buffettfest" clearly enjoyed a relaxed beach vibe at the outdoor swimming pool during the Labor Day weekend.
The event, featuring music, absurd games, free food, and prize giveaways, attracted nearly 1,000 people Sept. 3. The festivities included a pretaped concert by Jimmy Buffett in honor of servicemembers here, sponsored in part by his restaurant chain
Margaritaville and nearly 40 of the singer's "Parrothead" fan clubs.
The event also resulted in nearly $4,000 in charitable contributions to groups that help wounded veterans, organizers said.
Pfc. Josh E. Strayer, a mechanic for the 322nd Maintenance Company, only has about two months left on his tour and welcomed the chance to relieve some stress.
"It's awesome, man," he said after rummaging through an inflated wading pool filled with freebie gift items. "You almost don't feel like you're here (in Iraq)."
Morale, Welfare and Recreation coordinator John Jackson organized a similar party for troops in Baghdad last year, getting an exclusive prerecorded Buffett concert for that event as well.
"I'm a Buffett fan and there's no bigger party than a Buffett concert," Jackson said. "He's taken time out two years in a row putting this concert together."
The free items included T-shirts, CD copies of Buffett music, flowered leis, colorful bead necklaces, stickers, visors, and hats.
The Parrothead groups, the Internet fan site BuffettNews.com, and the restaurant chain, contributed an estimated $40,000 in merchandise in appreciation to troops, Jackson said.
In order to buy one of the T-shirts commemorating the event, Parrothead club members also had to purchase a second shirt for a servicemember, which in turn reduced the overall price, he said.
This resulted in a nearly $4,000 savings, which will be split between Homes for Troops, an organization that retrofits houses for handicapped servicemembers, and Wounded Warrior, which helps pay for the physical rehabilitation of injured veterans, Jackson said.
Airman 1st Class Paul F. Schlageter was one of the servicemembers who volunteered to help with the party and ended up assisting with cooking hot dogs. He said he was a Parrothead whose favorite song was "Son of a Son of a Sailor."
"I'm here until they make me go home," Schlageter said of the party.
The games included team raft races and cannonball dive competitions, with live music from post performers such as Maj. Randy Alan, commander of a tactical psychological operations detachment, and Spc. Billy Bostick, a helicopter mechanic with D Company, 7th Battalion, 101st General Support Aviation Brigade.
Homemade signs from the states proclaimed their thanks to the troops. Each was decorated with handwritten notes and one had "God Bless the U.S. and You" in large letters. More than 6,000 postcards were present, each with personal messages for servicemembers from civilians, Jackson said.
"Thanks for doing this – my husband served in Vietnam in the Marines. Our prayers are with you," Sandy Poling wrote in a postcard addressed to "An Awesome American Soldier."
Footage shot during the event will be shown at various Buffett concerts, Jackson said.
Rocky Woodman, a civilian employee for the Army Field Support Brigade, said his brother, Paul, was the president of "the third largest Parrothead club in existence" in Destin, Fla.
"My brother even wanted to fly out here – the idiot," Woodman said. "He said he has contact with clubs waiting for pictures (from the Buffetfest.) It's just a good, fun-loving activity."
The grand prizes for the event were tickets to a Buffett concert anywhere in the United States and some expense money, organizers said. The way to win was to have the most beads and leis, which you could win more of by taking part in the competitions.
Spc. Joshua W. Keener, a military policeman with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, walked around the pool wearing a pirate hat and so many leis that they were stacked up nearly to the top of his head.
He said he liked a couple of Buffett songs, but didn't consider himself a huge fan, even though he was aiming for winning the tickets.
"It's going to be a long counting process," he said with a smile. "I just want to win."
His wish came true. Keener, from Cool Rapids, Minn., was declared "king" of the event, winning a pair of tickets by having 517 leis and beads.
Senior Master Sgt. Martha Wilkerson, with the 332nd Expeditionary Operational Support Squadron, was declared "Queen" of the event with 465 leis and beads. Wilkerson, who was celebrating her 40th birthday, also won a pair of tickets.
| Date Taken: | 09.03.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2006 09:17 |
| Story ID: | 7735 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 52 |
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