56th Fighter Wing annual base picnic and Wacky Olympics

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Thousands of Thunderbolts gathered at Fowler Park Nov. 12 for a fun-filled day at the 56th Fighter Wing annual base picnic.

To start the day, seven teams raced each other with tricycles, beds and toilets for the chance to win hundreds of dollars in Services Bucks, according to Erika Brayton, 56th Force Support Squadron recreation assistant.

Team "Money Train," from the 56th Comptroller Squadron, was the overall Wacky Olympics winner.

"Winning teams can redeem their Services Bucks at any of the 56th FSS facilities," Ms. Brayton said. "For example, the proceeds can be put toward holiday parties at the club or equipment rental at outdoor recreation."

Another big event at the picnic was the pizza-eating contest, sponsored by Grimaldi's Pizzaria.

"The winner ate a 16-inch cheese pizza in 10 minutes," said Ken Jacoby, director of banquets and catering at Grimaldi's Pizzaria.

Those who chose not to participate in the pizza-eating contest had plenty of other food options, including hamburgers, hotdogs, beans, chips and cannolis.

The grill cooks were cooking as fast as they could, but it wasn't possible to keep up with the overwhelming demand for free food.

"We went through at least 6,000 hotdogs and 6,000 hamburgers," the grill cooks said. "The lines didn't slow down until the very end of the event."

Attendees could also stop by various booths at the picnic, which included banks, colleges and base clubs.

In less than three hours, employees at Grimaldi's Pizzaria table said they handed out more than 1,500 cannolis.

"The wing picnic was a great success," Ms. Brayton said. "For me, the best part was watching everyone cheer during the Wacky Olympics. They all had to work together in several of the events in order to succeed. Most importantly, everyone had a lot of fun."