Brigade Fall Fest a “Frightfully” good time

By Sergeant 1st Class Pete Mayes
101st Sustainment Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., November 2, 2009 – Rain didn’t stop the fun and festivities the 101st Brigade Troops Battalion had in store for the kiddies.
The BTB, part of the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, had worked along with the 106th Transportation Battalion and the 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion for months on planning their outdoor “Fall Festival Block Party.”
The festival was scheduled to be held in the Brigade’s quad area, but was rained out. Instead of calling it a day, organizers moved the event inside between all three battalion headquarters.
“We did have skating, but that was the only event that got canceled because of the rain,” said BTB Commander Lt. Col. Rob Davis.
The battalions came up with a variety of age appropriate activities to entertain both the Soldiers and their families, ranging from arts and crafts, and “Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin” for children ages six and under, to X-Box competitions and movies for the older kids and teens.
“Fall Festival” was not only about celebrating Halloween; it was a way to celebrate families and team-building as well, Davis said. “It’s about building stronger bonds and getting to know each other better as we get ready to deploy.”
129th CSSB Family Readiness Group Advisor Paula Rickleff said the brigade wanted to do a big event, which led to the collaboration between the battalions to host the festival.
“As you can see, it’s chaotic,” she said. “We had planned for inclement weather, and the rain makes it extra busy.”
Rickleff agreed with Lt. Col. Davis’ assessment of the event’s impact and meaning to the families.
“I’ve run into several people that I had no idea they were part of the Sustainment Brigade outside of my battalion just by having a function like this,” she said.
Many of the Soldiers and their children really got into the Halloween spirit, wearing costumes that ranged from the simple to the elaborate.
“Some of these costumes look professionally done. It’s like they’ve been planning for this all year,” mused Sgt. Jermaine Brown, BTB S-6 Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge.
Others just enjoyed spending time with their children. Sgt. Karl Lawrence, who is assigned to the 372nd Company, 106th Transportation Battalion, said he missed trick-or-treating with his children last year because he was deployed to Iraq.
“It’s just a treat to be here with family,” he said.
Brigade Commander Col. Michael Peterman said he was very impressed with the festivities.
“This is as neat an all-around event as I’ve ever seen,” he said. “We have to enjoy it while we can because the fact is, many of us won’t be here next year.”