Vance Family Picnic features food, family fun Published July 16, 2010 By Ashley M.D. Murphy 71st Force Support Squadron marketing manager VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Wrapping up the Year of the Air Force Family campaign will be a base wide family picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 24, at the base park. The picnic is for all Team Vance families, including contractors and civilians, and will offer free food, children's inflatables, a family tug-of-war, watermelon-eating contest for adults, pie-eating contest for children, and more. "The picnic is an opportunity for families to enjoy the day with friends, and for Vance to honor families one more time under the Year of the Air Force Family campaign," said Greg Waide, Airman and Family Services Fight chief. The secretary and the chief of staff of the Air Force named July 2009 -- July 2010, Year of the Air Force Family, to highlight the many successful programs already in place and to inform Airmen and their families of the development of new programs, unveiling them throughout the year. Airman and Family Readiness kicked off the campaign last November during Air Force Family week and have offered nearly 100 classes and events since. They have also offered dePLAYment tags to families of Vance deployed. DePLAYment tags can be used for discounted services around base, such as family child care, pool passes and various educational classes. "Our job is to honor and support Vance families all the time," said Mr. Waide. "The Year of the Air Force Family campaign has simply given us the means to expand opportunities and highlight what we already offer. The picnic may be a wrap-up but the mission of supporting the military's most important asset - family -- will never end." For information, call the Airman & Family Readiness Center, 213-6330.