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A service member with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16 hands out candy to children during the MAG-16 Spooktacular aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Oct. 24. The Spooktacular also had a haunted hangar with zombies and clowns.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Kimberlyn Adams

MAG-16 Spooktacular: Zombies, werewolves and clowns, Oh my!

28 Oct 2015 | Lance Cpl. Kimberlyn Adams 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16 hosts its 4th annual Spooktacular aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Oct. 24.

Service members and their families gathered for a Halloween themed family day. Super heroes, princesses and cats jumped through bounce houses, knocked over pins at game booths and trick-or-treated at the event.

The event took months of planning and two full days to set up with the help of 100 volunteers from all of the units in MAG-16.

“It gives us an opportunity to get all of the families from all the units together,” said Kelli Richardson, family readiness officer for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462 and a Marietta, Ga., native.

The Spooktacular allowed families to show their creative side with costumes, face painting and balloon animals.

“[The Spooktacular is] important because it’s a good way to bond with my family and get to know some more of the families in my unit,” said Lance Cpl. Kyle Roberts, an air framer with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363 and a Township, Mich., native. 

The event showcased some of the resources offered aboard MCAS Miramar to include the Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program, Marine Corps Community Services, Families Overcoming Under Stress, and Support The Enlisted Project to help out different families.

“It builds resilience and lets families know there is a network out there for them,” said Richardson.