Community shows appreciation with picnic, baseball game for Team Offutt

Published May 4, 2010
By 2nd Lt. Ken Scholz
55th Wing Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- As part of Military Appreciation Month this June, military members and their families in the greater Bellevue-Offutt community will be treated to a weekend of food, fun and friends.

The fun starts with the annual Offutt Appreciation Day Picnic, which begins at 10 a.m., June 11 at the base lake. The Omaha Royals will also host a Military Appreciation Day baseball game at 1:35 p.m., June 13 at Rosenblatt Stadium. Both events are free and open to all members of Team Offutt and their families.

During the picnic, free food and drinks will be accompanied by live entertainment, face painting and a raffle. The event also features a rock climbing wall, zoo animals and the National 9/11 Flag exhibit, a patchwork of American flags sewn together to restore the tattered American flag that hung on site in New York City following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Shuttles will run from the lower parking lot of U.S. Strategic Command to the base lake from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional parking is available at the lake, but people are advised to use the shuttle service in order to mitigate potential traffic congestion.

As a reminder, no pets, aside from service dogs, are allowed at the picnic.

"Each year the Offutt Advisory Council, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and volunteers from all over the metro area come together to put on an appreciation day picnic for our military families," said John Hansen, president of the Offutt Advisory Council. "This is just one of the ways we want to say thank you to our military families for the many sacrifices they make in support of our nation."

On June 13, members of Team Offutt, including contractors and their families, may attend the baseball game with the Royals.

"The Royals and Offutt have had a long-term relationship and we appreciate everyone on the Air Force Base," said Rob Crain, Rosenblatt Stadium assistant general manager.

For more information or for tickets to the baseball game, stop by the Information, Tickets and Travel Office inside the community center.