News>Barksdale celebrates 5th annual National Night Out
Photos
Mila, 2nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog runs at Senior Airman Demarcus Oguin, 2 SFS dog handler, during a K-9 demonstration for the annual National Night Out on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug 7. Military working dogs on a daily basis sharpen their skills as they are trained to patrol base entry points, vehicles and installations for hazardous materials and contraband. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett)(RELEASED)
Staff Sgt. Mark Chojnacki and his partner, military working dog Mila, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, perform a search on Senior Airman Demarcus Oguin, 2 SFS, during a controlled aggression K-9 demonstration for the annual National Night Out on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug 7. The 2 SFS K-9 unit provides trained and certified military working dogs that are capable of tracking, scouting, fighting, guarding and detection. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett)(RELEASED)
Team Barksdale members run and slide on the Surf The Wave during the annual National Night Out on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug 7. National Night Out is a police hosted event celebrated world-wide on the first Tuesday of August to raise awareness and take a stand against crime. More than 300 participants and volunteers came out to celebrate Barksdale's fifth annual National Night Out. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett)(RELEASED)
Members of Team Barksdale line up at a sno-cone truck during the annual Nation Night Out on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug 7. National Night Out is a world-wide event hosted on the first Tuesday in August to raise awareness and take a stand against crime. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett)(RELEASED)
More than 300 Team Barksdale members and volunteers celebrate the fifth annual National Night Out on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 7. The celebration is part of a year-long campaign designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, and generate support for local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message letting criminals know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett)(RELEASED)
by Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
8/13/2012 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Barksdale kicked off its fifth annual National Night Out celebration with opening remarks from the 2nd Bomb Wing Commander, Col. Andrew Gebara, as he welcomed members of Team Barksdale Aug. 7. More than 300 Team Barksdale members and participants came out to enjoy the festivities.
National Night Out is a police hosted event to raise awareness and take a stand against crime. The celebration takes place throughout the world on the first Tuesday of August. The year-long campaign is designed to not only heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, but generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
"The 2nd Security Forces Squadron has been involved with the annual National Night Out for five years as part of our effort to continuously improve our law enforcement service to Barksdale," said Staff Sgt. Garrett Thompson, 2 SFS crime prevention manager. "Our role is to bring the community together and heighten their awareness in crime and drug prevention and let them know that we are working diligently to keep crime off the streets of Barksdale Air Force Base."
The 2 SFS fully supports the goals of National Night Out, Thompson said.
To show the Barksdale community just that, Team Barksdale celebrated through entertainment and activities such as free food, sno-cones, children's games, a water slide, bounce castle, finger printing, weapons display, informational booths and a military working dog K- 9 demonstration. The fire department, along with Sparky the fire dog and crime dog Scruff McGruff joined the celebration.
Dreamer Dowden, The Landings at Barksdale community manager, started this event five years ago as she teamed up with the 2 SFS and other base agencies to show base residents that Barksdale is a community behind the gates.
"While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make our neighborhoods safer places throughout the year," said Dowden. "Barksdale Family Housing also promotes awareness in safety throughout the year to include donating glow necklaces and bracelets for security forces to pass out on Halloween, promoting Fire Prevention Week and promoting security forces drug take back events. We would like to find more ways to strengthen our neighborhoods and welcome any ideas from our residents."
Although National Night Out is a one night event, Barksdale Family Housing helps with raising crime prevention awareness throughout the year in many different ways.
According to Thompson, National Night Out has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in the fight for a safer nation. The benefits Barksdale will derive from National Night Out will also extend well beyond the one night.
"Each year the attendance at National Night Out on Barksdale Air Force Base grows, which means we are reaching out to new residents and more existing residents," said Dowden. "The more people who participate, the stronger our community will be."
National Night Out not only brings the community together, but it offers information about crime prevention tools that are effective in today's society.
