Thank You, First Responders!

At the same time that Gig Harbor was going to the dogs (in a good way at ,) the on Pioneer was host to the Honoring First Responders Celebration.

On Saturday, the rain held off just long enough for us to cruise downtown and admire our adorable canine citizens then dash up the road to catch the celebration already in full swing.  There was an awards ceremony in progress inside the church to honor those men and women who protect our lives and property on a daily basis.

Representatives and equipment were on hand from the Washington State Patrol, , , , and .  They demonstrated some of the tools that they use to perform their jobs and answered questions.  It was a great opportunity to learn more about them and to personally thank them for their contribution to the safety of our community.

Local restaurants , , and provided delicious refreshments.  offered samples of various snacks while Umpqua Bank handed out free ice cream bars.  There were also slices of vanilla and chocolate cake for anyone who still had an appetite.  There may have been more food offerings but I had to show some modicum of restraint as we had a big dinner planned for that night.

For the kids, there were numerous carnival-style games and face painting courtesy of the Cheerleaders was a popular stop.  Several bouncy houses were the perfect antidote for youngsters with a sugar buzz from the cake and ice cream.

Adults wandered through the booths and displays, pausing often to say hello to friends and neighbors, both past and present.  Gift bags bulged with swag from the generous vendors and made balancing a plate from the food booths a challenge.

The event wrapped up with drawings for some great prizes provided by local merchants followed by a vigorous Chicken Dance.  It was a fun and well-run celebration that allowed us to meet and honor the first responders in our community.