Laughlin volunteers are big help for Wild Game Dinner

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. James Ramirez
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 22nd annual Wild Game Dinner was held at the Del Rio Civic Center to support the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Dec. 3.

The dinner is the largest single fundraiser for the chamber. In addition to the dinner, the chamber raffled off 100 guns at an approximate value of $50,000, according to Tod Townsend of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce special projects committee and Military Affairs Association.

Preparation for the huge feast began at 6 a.m. the day of the event. The meal consisted of domestic and wild hog, deep fried turkey, fried venison, chili, beans, potato salad and up to 15 different species of exotic game donated from hunters of Val Verde county.

MAA class sponsors were generous enough to purchase tickets for Undergraduate Pilot Training students to enjoy a good meal, said Townsend.

More than 70 volunteers from Laughlin lent a helping hand, which was the most the dinner had ever seen, Townsend said. Volunteers assisted with everything from cooking and serving, to clean up at the end of the event.

"This event would not be half of what it is today without the participation we receive from Laughlin," he said.

Laughlin's chief master sergeants deep fried 72 turkeys for the event.

"Saturday's Wild Game Dinner was a phenomenal event. One of the true joys of being stationed at Laughlin is our close connection to the community," said Chief Master Sgt. Ray DeVite, 47th Flying Training Wing command chief.

The volunteers agreed that community service opportunities such as the dinner are important for servicemembers to participate in.

"The city of Del Rio does so much for Laughlin that it is imperative for the base to be proactive in maintaining good relations with this great community," said Airman 1st Class Clinton Rohloff, 47th Contracting Squadron contracting administrator and Wild Game Dinner volunteer.