Hoping to make it a regular event, the Escalon American Legion Post was the site of a Family Play Day on Saturday. The April 20 gathering was open to all in the community and the Post rooms on Second Street were open for a free meal and conversation, while outside the building, in the back area, games were set up for children and adults alike.
There were cornhole boards available, a water balloon toss area, an egg on a spoon race, and more.
Organizer and Post member Fallon Nunes said the idea was just to bring families together for a relaxing afternoon, especially encouraging the younger generation families in the community to come out and enjoy the day.
“Every year,” Nunes said of plans to turn it into an annual gathering. “We want to do it in July, though, we’re aiming for July, not during (youth) baseball season.”
The Gustafson-Thompson Post 263 provided everything for the day, from the hot dogs and hot links for lunch to the chips, salads, dessert and drinks as well as the activities.
“Hopefully, next time, being in the middle of summer we will have water gun fights and things like that,” Nunes added. “We also want to start a cornhole tournament.”
Trying their hand at the cornhole boards were Steve and Jackie Skov; it was Jackie’s first time playing the game.
“I think it’s too far apart,” Jackie said of the boards, chuckling as she tried to gauge her throws of the bean bag. “I’m not good.”
She also said the day overall seemed to go well, with people stopping by to check out the activities.
“It’s nice, for their first time and the kids are having a blast, the water’s a hit so it has been a good turnout,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nunes, an Army veteran herself, said she hopes more people eligible to be members of the Post will join in.
“I personally like belonging to the American Legion; for me, it gives me a sense of service, serving the community,” Nunes said. “As service members, that’s what we like, that’s what feels good to me.”
Overall, she said the day went smoothly, with plenty of residents – in a variety of ages – coming in to see what was going on, as well as partake of lunch and take some time to visit with friends and neighbors.
