Military Families Enjoy Night At The Circus
Photo by ET1(SW/AW) Marty ParsonsSailors assigned to Naval Station Mayport proudly display colors during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus' Military Appreciation Day show.
January 26, 2011
By MC2(AW) Gary Granger Jr., Naval Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment Southeast
Hundreds service members and their families enjoyed a night under the big top at the annual Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus “Salute To The Troops” on Jan. 22 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.Before the show, families selected through a prize drawing from the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Centers at NS Mayport, NAS Jacksonville and NSB Kings Bay were given the chance tour back stage before the show started. The families met clowns, acrobats, and even got a chance to pet a zebra.Tom Ford, general manager of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, said honoring the troops is something that happens at every Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus. “We’re real pleased to have our military to come out and visit us,” he said. “This is our chance to thank them personally along with the honor guard here opening the show.” The circus began with a group of clowns entertaining the crowds and followed by the ringmaster who welcomed the attendees to the circus. As the Naval Station Mayport Honor Support Team presented the colors during the national anthem, an elephant also paraded to the floor display the nation’s colors.
Photo by ET1(SW/AW) Marty ParsonsMilitary children from NS Mayport pose for a picture with a clown during the pre-show activities.
Electronics Technician 2nd Class Ryan Fischer, stationed with his wife on Naval Station Mayport, is a member of the base honor support team. Fischer said he was very glad for the chance to be at the circus parading the colors. “I volunteered to be here,” said Fisher. “I’ve never been to a Barnum and Bailey Circus so it’s a great experience and I’m glad I took the opportunity."Carol Griggs, a civilian worker and retired service member at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, said she appreciated Ringling’s gesture, which allowed her grandchildren to attend the show. “We just never had an opportunity to go,” said Griggs. “Our kids are all grown up so we called our grandchildren and asked them if they wanted to go to the circus and they said, ‘Yay!’”She and her grandchildren, Mackenzie, Madison and A.J., had never been to “the big top.” All three children were awestruck throughout the backstage experience. “Awesome,” was the word of choice throughout the day. Carol’s husband, Bob Griggs, was very impressed at how the military and the circus have a lot in common. They both have members from around the nation and assets from around the world. Both are highly trained units that perform sometimes unimaginable feats and handle complex logistical details in carrying out their mission. “This was great,” he said, “Stuff you didn’t know like the train that the circus came in on being a mile long, it was really interesting they showed us a lot of stuff that we didn’t know on how they operated.” “I’d like to see them do this for a long time,” he added. “I bet a lot of kids would love to be able to see this.Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/military/mayport-mirror/2011-01-26/story/military-families-enjoy-night-circus#ixzz1CF5nkigW
Electronics Technician 2nd Class Ryan Fischer, stationed with his wife on Naval Station Mayport, is a member of the base honor support team. Fischer said he was very glad for the chance to be at the circus parading the colors. “I volunteered to be here,” said Fisher. “I’ve never been to a Barnum and Bailey Circus so it’s a great experience and I’m glad I took the opportunity."Carol Griggs, a civilian worker and retired service member at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, said she appreciated Ringling’s gesture, which allowed her grandchildren to attend the show. “We just never had an opportunity to go,” said Griggs. “Our kids are all grown up so we called our grandchildren and asked them if they wanted to go to the circus and they said, ‘Yay!’”She and her grandchildren, Mackenzie, Madison and A.J., had never been to “the big top.” All three children were awestruck throughout the backstage experience. “Awesome,” was the word of choice throughout the day. Carol’s husband, Bob Griggs, was very impressed at how the military and the circus have a lot in common. They both have members from around the nation and assets from around the world. Both are highly trained units that perform sometimes unimaginable feats and handle complex logistical details in carrying out their mission. “This was great,” he said, “Stuff you didn’t know like the train that the circus came in on being a mile long, it was really interesting they showed us a lot of stuff that we didn’t know on how they operated.” “I’d like to see them do this for a long time,” he added. “I bet a lot of kids would love to be able to see this.Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/military/mayport-mirror/2011-01-26/story/military-families-enjoy-night-circus#ixzz1CF5nkigW
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