OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The Offutt Protestant Chapel is scheduled to host the Air Force’s largest Easter egg hunt on the base’s parade grounds March 27 at 1 p.m.
Last year their hunt had 20,000 eggs and was solely chapel-run. This year they are ready to take it up a notch and get the whole base involved.
After purchasing an additional 35,000 eggs for a grand total of 55,000, the chapel distributed them to squadrons across the base and chapel attendees to be filled. But that isn’t the only added bonus.
“There will be golden eggs hidden among the rest the eggs with a slip of paper or token inside,” said Elizabeth Farar, Protestant Religious Education Coordinator and event coordinator. “At the end of the hunt, those who find the golden egg will be presented with a special prize sponsored by each squadron. Some of the prizes will even include stuff for the adults, like a computer desk, travel safe and parsons chairs.”
With so many eggs in play, U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Farar, 55th Wing chaplain, said he is expecting more than 3,000 people this year, which will increase the need for volunteers.
“We will need 50 to 60 volunteers on top of the chapel staff,” Elizabeth Farar said. “They will be asked to help with things such as parking and hiding the eggs.”
Parts of the road around the parade grounds will be closed as a safety precaution. However, people can park behind the chapel and behind the office buildings lining the parade grounds. The parking lot immediately outside the chapel will be reserved for Exceptional Family Member Program families.
“EFMP families will also have a special Easter egg field and their own Easter bunny if they would like,” Elizabeth Farar said.
On top of the 55,000 eggs and special golden eggs, there will also be four age-specific bounce houses, egg and spoon relays, ring toss, and other games with prizes. A hospitality tent with drinks and cookies, and an Easter bunny picture booth will also be provided. Everything is completely free and open to anyone with base access.
The only stipulation is the empty eggs shells must be returned at the end.
“That way the Easter bunny can hide them again next year,” Elizabeth Farar said. “In exchange each kid will receive a helium balloon.”
Although an Easter egg hunt of this magnitude is the first in the Air Force, the real message the chapel wanted to get out was their eagerness to promote the idea of the military family and military culture.
“Since we arrived here in the fall of 2012, the library closed, the community building not only closed, but was torn down, one of the two pools was closed and torn down and the base theater closed,” Elizabeth Farar said. “So in the absence of those things, we started to lose our sense of community. The chapel wants to be that place that can create community again and to see people support one another again.”
Chaplain Farar echoed her sentiment.
“We want to help everyone embrace that this is our military base, our military family,” Chaplain Farar said. “We love our people and we love to do stuff for our military families, so we wanted to do something that would bless the whole base.”
For more information contact the chapel at (402) 294-6244. To sign up as a volunteer click here.
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