MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 and their families took part in a unit-wide family day event at the Cherry Point softball complex July 8.
“We put on this event to help build esprit de corps and to show our appreciation to the families,” said 2nd Lt. Britin Ellard, the adjutant for MWSS-274. “The families are very important to this unit.”
The Marines of MWSS-274 split up into teams by their companies for the two major competitions; a softball tournament and a Top Chef competition.
There was also a dunk tank, inflatables, bean bag toss, a fire truck static display, and a magician and balloon animal maker.
“The families had a blast and we got to see some amazing competition in the softball tournament,” said Ellard.
As a special dedication to the RomanEstrada family, they were invited to throw the first pitch of the softball tournament. The RomanEstrada family’s house was severely damaged during a tornado that hit the Falcon Bridge housing community April 16. Fortunately, the RomanEstradas were on vacation when the tornado hit the area, but when they returned home they said it was a devastating site to see.
“The site of our house and all our possessions strewn all over was horrifying,” said Staff Sgt. Gamaliel RomanEstrada. “The fact that the (Marines in our squadron) asked us to throw out the first pitch made me feel like, ‘hey, they really care.’ It was truly an honor to be able to throw out the first pitch.”
The softball tournament was a double-elimination style tournament and was broken down into five teams; air field operations, motor transport, engineer, headquarters, and a staff noncommissioned officer and officer team.
“We had a pretty great group of players that gelled together really well,” said Cpl. Robert J. Thebeau, the coach for the Engineer Company softball team. “We made some phenomenal plays in the field and we hit the ball really well in our final game to win the championship.”
Engineer Company won the tournament with a 15-0 victory over Motor Transport Company, and the Engineer Company team won the Top Chef competition as well.
The Top Chef competition was a team effort in cooking and preparing two dishes using a select few meats and the secret ingredient, ginger. The four teams had about two and half hours to prep, cook and present their two dishes.
With the sweep of the two competitions Engineer Company took home the MWSS-274 “Battle of the Companies” trophy.
“It is pretty exciting to win the trophy,” said Thebeau. “It was a company-wide effort and everyone did a great job doing what had to be done to win the competition.”
Thebeau said it was great having his wife out there at the family day watching his company and him win the trophy.
“This event was a great way to promote family togetherness and family morale,” said Thebeau. “Without the support of our families this unit wouldn’t be the same.”