Fairfield Harbour families greet Marines with appreciation, fun

Fairfield Harbour families greet Marines with appreciation, fun
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June 28, 2009 - 2:34 PM
Francine Sawyer
Sun Journal Staff

Instead of fatigues, 84 Marines from Camp Geiger in Jacksonville arrived in Fairfield Harbour wearing comfortable clothes Sunday, and 21 families took them boating and gave them a picnic.

This is the third year that organizers Bruce and Joan Shattuck and the families have shown appreciation for the Single Marine Program, which provides activities and assistance for Marines.

Couples who live in Fairfield Harbour eagerly awaited the arrival of two buses full of Marines at the Fairfield Harbour Community Center outside the gated community.

The Marines stepped off the buses and were connected with the families assigned to take them on the water.

Brandon Garcia, 21, who along with the 83 other Marines is in the School of Infantry, is from Shreveport, La. He called the outing "amazing."

"They are giving us this; it's a good cause," Garcia said. "We can unwind and get away from regular activity."

William Riley, 20, of Virginia Beach, Va., called the outing the "best thing since sliced bread." And Alaina Grissom, 21, of Jacksonville, Fla., said she thought the outing offered a great opportunity to see another community.

While the young Marines were ready for the adventure, the organizers were just as excited as they greeted the men and women that they were going to provide fun and food to for the day.

Bruce Shattuck said the event is an opportunity to show the men and women appreciation for their bravery and willingness to put their lives on the line.

"After all they were not drafted, they volunteered," said Shattuck, who has three sons in the Army.

The event ended with a picnic in Fairfield Harbour at Red Sail Park. The host families took platters of food for their guests to enjoy.

Francine Sawyer can be reached at (252) 635-5671 or at fsawyer@freedomenc.com.

Ellie