Show of appreciation

link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Col. Tony Bauernfeind, commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing, calls out a raffle number at Canon Appreciation Day..

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Organizers of Cannon Appreciation Day in Clovis were thrilled to have a turnout Friday of about 3,000 people, and it helped a little that the weather was nice too.

Clovis Chamber of Commerce Director Ernie Kos said she appreciated the overcast sky that kept the crowds cool while celebrating Cannon Air Force Base air commandos and the value they bring to the local communities.

Kos predicts there were 60 volunteers “eager to serve” the air commandos and their families.

“From a community standpoint, it was just to highlight our teammates at Cannon to let them know how much we appreciate them,” Kos said.

Kos said about $10,000 was invested in food and prizes for the annual event.

She said the community received positive affirmations from Cannon and believes everyone at the base enjoyed eating with the community Friday.

Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Director Karl Terry said it’s important to take care of the military families in the Roosevelt County community and is looking forward to Portales’ Cannon Appreciation Day slated for Sept. 13.

“It’s great to connect military community with the business community and the downtown community,” Terry said. “We know that the military families have suffered a lot of deployments and it’s good to have family time with folks.”

Terry said he’s seen from experience that the event has brought military spouses out to meet new friends and gives them a chance to have fun despite their spouse being deployed.

“It’s something to do to let them know they’re appreciated,” Terry said. “That’s the big thing, we try to take care of the families and I know the one in Portales, we get a lot of spouses coming. It gives them a chance to make new friends and have fun and forget about the pressures.”