Family Y has a day of fun for military

Three-year-old Danny Bode and his brother Luke, 2, were in their own world as they played with bubbles Saturday.

"They are having a blast," said their father, David. "They are really in awe of the huge bubbles they're making."

The military family physician and his wife, Michelle, and their two children were among about 400 people who attended the third annual Operation Augusta Cares at the Family Y Water Park.

In addition to bubble stations and the water park, the event featured inflatables, food, music and magic shows.

The goal of Operation Augusta Cares is to show appreciation to military families, said its chairman, Jack Kenney.

"My son, who is the pastor of Quest Church, and I decided we needed to do something to show the families of service members that we care about them," he said. "We wanted to let them know that the community supports them and their loved ones."

The family atmosphere and the outward showing of thanks mean a lot to those in the military, Dr. Bode said.

"At times, you wonder how people really feel about us, and this reassures us that there are people who are fully behind us regardless of how they feel about wars," he said. "Their appreciation and support is a big deal to us. It makes us feel good about what we do."

Staff Sgt. Felisha Hagler brought her 1-year-old daughter, Eboni.

"It really boosts your morale, and it gives you a place to come and let your children have fun with other children from military families," she said.

Army Spc. Tasha Becton agreed.

"We work really hard, so it's nice when the community appreciates that, and to have an event just for us, that's something special," she said as she watched her 3-year-old daughter, Allannah, play in an inflatable.

Virginia Hindbaugh, a family readiness support assistant at Fort Gordon, has been a member of the event's committee since the beginning. As a military spouse and mother of six, she knows what it means to military families to have a day for fun.

"It really warms my heart to not only be a part of the planning but to witness what this does for families," she said. "The overwhelming respect that these members of the Augusta community have for our military families can really brighten things, especially when there is a family member deployed. The community wants to provide us with that chance to sit back, relax and enjoy each other."

The event was sponsored by The Quest Church, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Grace Baptist Church and The Family Y.

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.