Goodfellow hosts annual Community Appreciation Day Published Nov. 18, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Scott Jackson 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Goodfellow hosted the 6th Annual Goodfellow Community Appreciation Day and 34th Annual Santa's Market at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy Nov. 15. The event aimed at strengthening the base and community relations by informing locals of the training and mission here at Goodfellow. With that in mind, the base invited the local community to attend the free annual event featuring different Goodfellow units providing demonstrations and displays to include firefighters extinguishing an aircraft fire, squadrons competing in a drill competition and student linguists translating phrases and words of the costumers choosing. Along with the Community Appreciation Day, the Arts and Crafts Center hosted the Santa's Market, which included more than 100 vendors from the local community. "It's good to get out here and help out the Airmen so they can get their Christmas shopping done," said Robin Smith, local painted gourds vendor. "We know some Airmen don't have the option of going off base while in training, so we can help them by bringing our goods to them." Event visitors remarked on how they enjoyed the bonding between the base and local community. "The fact that people from off base get to come on base and get to see what we do is really great," said Amber Henry, Goodfellow team member. "We get to see people that we normally wouldn't get to see in our military bubble." Children participated in the "Make and Take" arts and crafts table, and could also visit with Santa Claus and get a photo with him. For more information on upcoming Goodfellow events, check http://www.goodfellow.af.mil/.
