Depot families get out, rock to the beat at Block Party

29 Aug 2003 | Lance Cpl. Jennifer Brofer Marine Corps Training and Education Command

The Depot hosted a Block Party on Boulevard de France Aug. 23 with music, concessions and summertime activities for Marines, sailors, DoD civilians and their families to enjoy.
The party featured a moon bounce, castle maze, duck pond and inflatable obstacle course as entertainment for the younger children.

For the adults who were too old for the moon bounce, there was a horseshoe tournament, basketball shootout and a 2-on-2 volleyball tournament, with trophies given out to the winners.

Many families also took advantage of the Depot Outdoor Pool's extended hours, making a splash to cool off during the hot summer day. Others were seen taking a flying leap onto the slip-n-slide, in an attempt to do flips and sommersaults from a running start.

One of the children's events was not only entertaining, but also educational.

To teach them the importance of fire safety, the Parris Island Fire Department gave a presentation using a mobile home that was set up nearby, which included a mini kitchen, living room and bedroom. One of the firemen gave the children a tour of the home, and, with the help of a smoke machine, they were able to simulate the proper steps to take if a fire ever occurs.

As a special treat, the children even received a visit from McGruff the Crime Dog, who coined the phrase, "Help take a bite out of crime."

A big hit among the partygoers was the live concert in front of the Iron Mike statue with music provided by the Parris Island Marine Band. The concert was the last installment of the Commanding General's Summer Concert Series. The hour-long concert consisted of three bands: a jazz band, rock band and big brass band. They played everything from current tunes from bands like No Doubt and Evanescence, to older songs from artists like Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond. At one point, the band even had the audience singing along to "Sweet Caroline," with young children dancing to the beat nearby.

After the band was done playing and the sun had set, many families went to see the featured movie at the Depot Theater, "Sinbad: Legends of the Seven Seas," which went along with the family theme.

All in all, the party was seen as a success, as shown by the attendance of families who came to enjoy the outdoor bash.

"[The party] went very well because a lot of families came out and they were able to see what the Depot is all about," said Capt. Matt Wagner, assistant operations officer at G-3. "We were able to show a lot of facets of the Depot that people didn't know about, and overall everyone seemed to have a fantastic time."

Marine Corps Training and Education Command