OCEANSIDE: Troops treated to Operation Appreciation

3,000 expected to attend 7th annual effort

By DANIEL ELY - For the North County Times | Saturday, May 17, 2008 9:59 PM PDT ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- Armed services members, veterans and their families gathered at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre on Saturday for the seventh annual Operation Appreciation, a day-long event to show support for those in the military.


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The event featured free food for the expected 3,000 participants, along with live music and a free carnival for the children of active-duty service members.

"It means a lot to our Marines, sailors and families to see the undying support," said Col. James Seaton, commander of Camp Pendleton.

According to Seaton, displays of solidarity are important to troops, and even though public opinion is sharply divided on the war, public opinion about the troops themselves remains positive.

"One of the big worries for them is whether or not the nation will support what they're doing ... but regardless of folks' views on the policies, they still support the troops," he said.

Seaton joined volunteers such as Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista; Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood; and members of the Oceanside City Council in the day's mess hall serving a free lunch to active-duty service members and their families.

"We've been dishing food for the last hour and a half," Seaton said, with a smile.

"Hey, war dog! Come over here and get some of this beef," exclaimed Marine Sgt. Maj. Shelley Sergeant to the service members walking up the red carpet toward the tables of food.

The rush had ended, and some of the volunteers were hanging up their aprons to go eat their own lunches or listen to the live band. Sergeant's only response was to exclaim, "we need to bring some more people in here!" before turning to fill the plates of two uniformed Marines and a very convincing Capt. Jack Sparrow impersonator from the event's carnival.

"I'm in it for the long haul," Sergeant said, "I'm a Marine too, and I'm just here to say thanks to our fellow Marines for the job they're doing."

Farther down the line, Sgt. Maj. B.K. Jackson stood with a ladle in a massive pot of beans, ready for the next plate.

"It's been awesome today," he said. "Everyone's so cordial. They're thanking us for serving them food, but we're the ones here to thank them. Serving those who serve us makes it all worthwhile."

Though the event's opening ceremonies didn't begin until 11 a.m., the commotion began at 7 a.m. when a massive Navy Hovercraft made landfall next to the pier as a crowd gathered to watch (and quickly retreat from the small sandstorm caused by the craft's two giant fans).

Several military vehicles were lined up along the beach, all varied in size and function, but all alike in that they were swarming with children and adults wanting to know more about them, and to sit in the seats and get their pictures taken.

"I've been here for four years now, and this is the first year I've been able to come. Last year at this time I was in Iraq, where it was 130 degrees," said Pfc. Trever Kynaston, following his children to another of the carnival's rides.

"I dragged them over there so we could get some food, and they dragged me back over here so we could ride the rides," he said.

Kynaston said that the event was a good time, and had a good purpose.

"It's nice to see the people out here, regardless of their feelings on the war, to show their support."

More information about Operation Appreciation is available at oceansideoperationappreciation.com.