By Kirk Boxleitner, Marysville Globe
MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Family YMCA is extending Veterans Day into the weekend following Nov. 11, by hosting its “Military Family Night” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, as part of the YMCA of Snohomish County’s “Military Family Month” in November.
Allison Hoot, youth and family coordinator for the Marysville Family YMCA, explained that the Y building will be open to military families only during those two hours, and that military identification will be required to enter.
“We’ll be hosting a sit-down dinner, where families will be waited on and pampered,” said Hoot, who touted the door prizes and other games offered by the event. “After dinner, the Y will be open for family swimming, dodgeball and basketball.”
Hoot added that area Girl Scouts will be providing crafts for families to do together as well, while community businesses have donated gift cards and baskets for door prizes.
“The Marysville, Arlington and Lake Stevens area houses so many service members, and a lot of those families have at least one parent deployed,” Hoot said. “This annual event gives all of our local military families time to enjoy just being together.”
“The Y encourages everyone to recognize the sacrifices that military members and their families make in service to our country,” said Scott Washburn, president and CEO of the YMCA of Snohomish County. “Residents of Snohomish County can also show support for military personnel by getting involved with their local YMCA or other organizations that help military families here in our community.”
Military Family Month was first established by the Armed Services YMCA and recognized by former First Lady Nancy Reagan in 1993, before President Barack Obama proclaimed November as Military Family Month on Oct. 30, 2009, calling on “all Americans to honor military families, through private actions and public service, for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our nation.”
For more information on the Marysville Family YMCA’s Military Family Night, call Hoot at 360-651-1607.