Above / When you see HMMWVs (Humvees) in action at home or overseas, you’ll find American troops serving local needs after natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Little kids love big vehicles! They’re enamored by big firetrucks, big earth moving equipment, big Humvees … the list goes on and on.
Above / First introduced in 1960, the M113 is a fully-tracked armored carrier for personnel and certain types of cargo.
As a special added attraction new this year in the Jaycees Family Fun Land at Naper Settlement, Last Fling Co-Executive Director John Trojanowki has arranged for big Army vehicles to be featured on Saturday, Sunday and Monday with other amusements geared to entertain young families during the four-day festival known as Last Fling.
With memories of youngsters playing with diminutive action figures in the likeness of G.I. Joe, “A Real American Hero,” the Last Fling Army Fun Zone is sure to be a big hit, too.
Acting as America’s Goodwill Ambassadors and educating today’s youth about peace; USAREC (US Army Recruiting Command) will play host to the first ever Army Fun Zone.
Trojanowski went on to quip that the Army likes to use acronyms to name its fleets of vehicles, then he listed the ones that will be available for kids to size up in the Army Fun Zone.
Children of all ages will have the chance to get up close and personal with some of the Army’s most advanced tactical equipment including an M113 (Armored Personnel Carrier), HEMMIT (truck wrecker), LMTV (Troop Carrier, HMMWV (Humvee), and an MRAP (Used for tactical missions in desert wars).
Above / LMTV stands for Light Medium Tactical Vehicle, a light utility truck and troop carrier.
A Tactical Operations Area (TOC) will be set up, too. Various tent stations will be available for camouflage face painting, customized dog tags, and pictures taken with a True American Soldier dressed in full Guille Suit. Activities will include a rock wall, bags tournament, fitness tester, and a scavenger hunt for the chance to win amazing prizes.
“Kids will be able to meet an American Soldier and have a dog tag made with their own name,” explained Trojanowski, who joined the Jaycees in 2007, eager in his volunteer role this year to bring educational attractions to the area that showcase real life and service in a fun way.
“We’re always looking to find new and innovative ideas to keep the event going,” added Trojanowski. “I think youngsters and their families will enjoy seeing all the tactical vehicles and meeting the real American Soldier in a camouflage Ghillie Suit.”
U.S. Army personnel, honored to wear the “new” camouflage design this year, will be available onsite all weekend to field questions, Trojanowski added. He also said a recruitment command will be stationed in a booth at the Business Expo along Jackson Ave.
Family Fun Land at Naper Settlement
The Napleton’s Valley Hyundai Family Fun Land stage features free entertainment. Highlights include a Star Wars character meet and greet from 3-4PM Saturday; meet and greet with Calum (Dez) Worthy of Disney Channel’s “Austin and Ally,” 3-5PM Sunday; and the Ice Princess’ surprise Birthday party featuring a Frozen sing-along, themed crafts and meet & greet with the Snow Queen, Ice Princess and their friends, 2-4PM Monday, the final day of Last Fling 2015.
Find the Napleton’s Valley Hyundai Family Fun Land at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., across Aurora Ave.
The popular play land will be open from 10AM-5PM Sat., Sept 5 and Sun., Sept. 6; and from 11AM to 5PM
Mon., Sept. 7. Again, admission is free of charge.
Labor Day Salute to the Military on Rotary Hill
Once again through the generosity of the Naperville Jaycees, Veterans in the Naperville area are being honored at the Last Fling. After the Labor Day parade organizers of Last Fling will provide lunch for Veterans at the sponsors tent on Rotary Hill. Veterans are welcome to arrive from 1 to 1:30PM to enjoy the recognition followed by festivities at the Main Stage concert venue.
Also, Veterans from the Hines V.A. Hospital Blind Unit have been invited and will be in attendance.
On behalf of Veterans, Naperville Township Veterans Advocate Mike Barbour noted, “We Veterans thank the Jaycees for both their generosity and the respect and honor they have shown us in the past and continue to do so on a daily basis.”
Barbour, who served the U.S. Army in Vietnam, also serves as American Legion Post 43 Service Officer and VFW Post 3873 Service Officer.
For more information, visit www.lastfling.org. To lend a hand during a shift at the four-day festival, Sept. 4-7, click here for Last Fling Volunteer Info.
(Photos courtesy Danielle Tufano for Naperville Jaycees Last Fling/Military-Today.com)
