NAS Jax holds annual Month of the Military Child Carnival

The event is put on each year by the NAS Jax Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department's Youth Activities Center (YAC) to show military children how much they are appreciated.

The event featured numerous inflatables that provided lots of jumping, sliding and bouncing, face painting by the staff of the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) and Cuddles the Clown, arts and crafts courtesy of the Child Development Center (CDC), free sno-cones and lots of giveaway gifts.

"We are here today to celebrate Month of the Military Child. It's a day to recognize the children and what all they go through being part of a military family. We celebrate our military families each November and this is the time to celebrate the kids," said YAC Assistant Director Erica Alvis. "We hold a carnival every April and it's always a lot of fun. The base really comes together to put this on, from the fitness folks, FFSC, CDC and the Youth Center. We all work together to make this fun for the kids."

NAS Jax Fitness Source Manager Chris Crossman and Youth Activities Center Assistant Director Erika Alvis demonstrate their best rendition of Y-M-C-A.

As the kids checked out all the cool stuff, parents cheered them on as they climbed a large wall to go down a slide, kicked soccer balls and stuck to a wall like a fly. Others stood in line to get their faces painted like fairy princesses and their favorite superhero and to win some prizes.

"We came here today so my children could have some fun and we could have some family time together. I'm really enjoying watching them kick the soccer ball around," said TM1(SW) Chris Garcia of the NAS Jax Weapons Department. "It's a pretty good little carnival. There's a lot of things for the kids to do and it's free."

Eight-year-old Anna Verrill (front) holds hands with her sister, Jennifer (4) as they go down the giant inflatable slide.

The parents weren't the only ones who were happy with the carnival and what it had to offer. "I think the carnival is really cool because there is something for kids to do here instead of for just the military people who work and live on the base," added 8-year-old Ashley Pierce. "I went on the slide, played some soccer and have checked out just about everything. It's really a fun time for kids."

Overall, the turnout at the carnival was what MWR and the YAC was hoping for. "We had a wonderful turnout this year. Hundreds of participants came through today and it was a very successful event," said MWR Marketing Director Shannon Leonard. "A special thanks to VyStar Credit Union for sponsoring the event, they really added so much for the children by providing free punching balloons, flashlights and sun visors. It was also nice to see all the smiling faces as a result of all the hard work the Youth Activities staff put forth to plan this event."

Six-year-old Dane LaRocque takes aim and kicks a soccer ball into a target.

Jaida Murray looks for approval after falling off the sticky velcro wall.