Please note: The California Barbecue Association is not a sponsor nor a participant nor directly involved in any of the OBBQFOT events. Announcements of OBBQFOT events are placed on the CBBQA web pages as a public service.
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Photos by Bill Stadler and Bill Wight, cbbqa
The first OBBQFOT event in California was held on May 17,
2003 at the Twentynine Palms, CA Marine Base for the families of the following units that are serving in "Operation
Iraqi Freedom":
1st
Tanks ,
1/7, 2/7, 3/7, 3/4, 3/11, 3rd LAR and HQ Co
Reports from the front line (Bbq serving line that is): Del King, Event Coordinator-- It was better than Disneyland. All the people were so grateful that we had driven from all over southern California. They even had a Banner made thanking the CBBQA for supporting them. Yes we had a lot of food and plenty of take home for the families. What was left was taken to a building for a group of Marines that were flying in from Iraq tonight. When they get off the bus from March Air Base they will be taken into a building where all the BBQ is waiting for them to eat. This is the advanced party for our boys. THEY ARE COMING HOME. We fed Marine from the rear party that helped set up extra table and chairs. The families showed up and really had a Blast. Over and Over again and again people would come up to me and say how much it meant for us to be there. I had the honor of meeting Deborah May, the widow of Marine SSgt Donald May Jr. A Marine who gave his life in Iraq. She was there as part of the 1st Tank Battalion family. Her husband was killed on 29 March 2003. She is still feeling the loss but she could not find the words to express how much joy it brought to her knowing that there are people that were willing to give of their time and Heart. It gave her a boost for the day. She gave me a laminated card with his picture on in on the back--it reads:
May the road
rise to meet you. Before I left for 29 Palms someone had posted a picture of me and added a few words in the upper right. Let me tell you this even squinting they could see the tears of joy in my eyes. To bring such joy to so many that have sacrificed for us is worth it all. It was worth every headache and even more.
Bill Stadler-- Folks, The day was FANTASTIC... we served OVER 500 folks, I am sure. Everything was a success. They couldn't stop thanking and complimenting us for our efforts. The day started with overcast sky....so it only got up to about 90 with a light breeze to cool things down. The kids loved their Disney CDs and other gifts. Everyone said that this was the best BBQ they had ever tasted. A few Marines from the south said this was the most authentic Q they had had since they left home! I really got to feel real old being called "sir" so much... such great manners in the military. When all was said and done, the families and marines left with "take home" boxes and leftover watermelon. This was one Bbq that will make several more meals to come on base. I am now going to collapse and hopefully sleep in tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the event to make it so successful.
Bill Wight-- At 1200 hours (noon) on Saturday May 17th, we had everything set up and ready to go--chaffing dishes going hot and cold with barbecue and sides, buns and hot dogs waiting for little hands to grab, iced tea, lemonade and about a thousand iced sodas waiting for thirsty throats, watermelons galore sitting in their icy tubs, just waiting to make sticky faces. We needed only one thing more—Marines family members. We had fed the Marine work party that had set up the tables and chairs, but no one else arrived. At 1230 hours, we looked at each other and wondered if anyone would come and enjoy all the food we had prepared. At 1245, we began to really worry, for there were no Marines standing in lines waiting for pulled pork sandwiches, no kids at the goodie tables, no Marine wives queuing up for some sliced tri-tip, potato salad and dirty rice. But at 1300 hours, the flood gates opened and we were descended upon by the most friendly and respectful group of people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. One young Marine remarked, "Sir, this is the best thing I've put in my body in 12 months." Each time I got a big grin and a "Thank You" from a Marine family member or a Marine, I said, 'Thank You' back. I felt humbled in the presence of all these incredible people. The day before, when I arrived at the event staging area at the Hi Desert airport in Joshua Tree at noon, I was hot, tired and a little bit put out at having to do so much work for this event, like picking up and hauling over 1,200 pounds of meat and struggling with 10 ice chests. It was also very hot in my trailer and I was out of extra ice. I was stressed because I did not have enough ice chest space for some of the meat I picked up at Smart & Final in Cathedral City. Others were on their way with more ice chests and ice but they were late. I began to play 'musical ice chests' with ice-cold pork butts and not cold enough tri-tips. I was sure that nothing could be worth this much effort and stress and I vowed that'd I never do this again. I was never so wrong in my life. I will be honored if I can do this again. When I got on the Twentynine Palms Marine base and saw all those Marines and Marine wives and Marine kids, I felt ashamed of my whining and complaining. How could I compare the few days of work, in my air-conditioned home, office and truck, that I did, to the work that our Marines are doing in Iraq, and doing under such appalling conditions? How could I compare the little work I did with what the families of our Marines are going through--separated from their wives, husbands, families and friends? I could not. I thought this barbecue picnic was going to be for the Marine families. It turned out to be more than that--it turned out to be one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. I would like to thank Del King, former 1st Tanks Marine, for allowing me to help him with this wonderful event.
More event photos by Bill Stadler We thank the wonderful and generous sponsors that made this event possible Primary Sponsor
Additional Sponsors
The Village Vine Resource Center Lynn Courtney, Director
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