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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 16, 2012 - 4:45:44 PM |
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Carnival, food, fun attract thousands to Gatesville Shivaree
By Capt. Marvin J. Baker, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, Public Affairs
Jun 6, 2011 - 1:34:38 PM
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Cpl. Christopher Vazquez of the 410th Military Police Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, grabs dollar bills in a cash cube during the Gatesville Shivaree June 4 in Gatesville, Texas. Vazquez earned his time in the cash cube by winning a hotdog-eating contest. (Photo by Capt. Marvin J. Baker, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, Public Affairs) |
GATESVILLE, Texas - The first weekend in June marks the end of the school year and the celebration of the Gatesville Shivaree at Faunt Le Roy Park.
This first weekend of summer vacation is usually one of the hottest of the entire summer, but high humidity in the mornings and 95-degree temperatures in the afternoons didn't keep thousands of visitors from enjoying the food, music and carnival at the 38th annual festival.
"I estimate that about 4,000 people will come in and out of the park on Friday and Saturday," said Carla Manning, Gatesville Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Liaison. "People are keeping cool by drinking lots of water and staying in the shade, and our vendors are using fans and misters to keep from overheating."
This year's festival included arts and craft vendors, a barbecue cook-off, 5K and 10K fun runs, an auto show, and military exhibits from the 89th Military Police Brigade and Gatesville's military neighbor, First Army Division West. The Shivaree also featured local favorites including hotdog- and watermelon-eating contests, a wiener-dog race and a frozen T-shirt contest. Contest winners earned the opportunity to grab fistfuls of cash in a cash cube.
"I won $101 in the hot-dog eating contest, and now I'm going to take my wife out to dinner this weekend," said Cpl. Christopher Vazquez of the 410th Military Police Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade. Vazquez said he signed up for the competition on a whim and ate six and a half hotdogs, only one-half more than his nearest competitor, to win the contest.
Manning said the goal of the activities in the park is to get people to come together and have fun at the beginning of the summer.
"We measure the success of the Shivaree by the number of people who come out and who have a good time," Manning said.
The auto show and barbecue cook-off attracted visitors such as Capt. Eric Dunkley, commander of Division West Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, who volunteered to taste-test and judge barbecued ribs. Dunkley was among 25 Soldiers from Division West who volunteered to display military equipment, judge contests and support other activity stations.
"I got the hard job: I had to taste 14 different kinds of ribs and judge which one was the best," Dunkley said. "I like all different kinds of ribs, so I liked many of them. I like spicy, smoky, it just depends on how my palate is feeling that day."
Dunkley also got a treat when he got an up-close look at several "rat-rods" - mostly custom-made, restored antique vehicles - and talked to some of the designers and drivers.
"The event was a great opportunity for us to interact with the community that has taken great care of us and to show our appreciation for them," Dunkley said.
Fort Hood Soldiers regularly support community events to create closer bonds with the communities that support them.
"We had a good time talking to people about the military, some of the abilities of our equipment we have here on display, and talking to our prior-service Soldiers about the old and new of the military," said Sgt. Miguel Izarraraz of the 89th MP Bde. "We care about the community as well, and we want to have good relations with them and show them a little bit of the Army."
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Capt. Eric Dunkley, left, commander of Division West Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, admires a "rat rod" at an auto show at the Gatesville Shivaree June 4 in Gatesville, Texas. (Photo by Capt. Marvin J. Baker, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, Public Affairs) |
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