Alamogordo celebrates Armed Forces day with Saturday in the Park

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The city of Alamogordo, N.M., held its annual Saturday in the Park/Armed Forces Day celebration May 16 and 17 at Washington Park. 

For the fifth year in a row, the largest traveling 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, Gus Macker, traveled to Alamogordo and attracted a larger crowd than ever before, including many members of Team Holloman who both participated and volunteered in the events. 

"The event originated 34 years ago when the city and Holloman Air Force Base put this on and it's been an annual event that we do to celebrate our Armed Forces day weekend," said Mr. Raul Ruiz, Civic Center manager and project coordinator. 

The Saturday in the Park/Armed Forces Day celebration kicked off early with the opening ceremony featuring a fly over by two of Holloman's F-22A Raptors flown by 49th Operations Support Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Alex Grynkewich and Capt. Andrew Rule, 7th Fighter Squadron. 

"[We come together today] to celebrate our troops for the things they do [so] we might have freedom to be able to do such things as this: come into your community and play basketball," said Mr. Jerry Lott, Gus Macker tournament director, before the event. 

Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Cui, 49th Fighter Wing command chief, also spoke in the opening ceremony. 

"Alamogordo and Holloman have an awesome association and anytime we can get together and have our volunteers help with sports events such as this, it makes us a stronger community, while allowing us to better understand and appreciate what we do in our daily lives," he said. 

For the rest of the day and into Sunday, more than 233 teams, 30 more than last year, enjoyed their Saturday in the park celebrating and playing basketball. 

For more information on the Gus Macker tournaments, visit their official website at www.macker.com.