Service Members in Ansbach Celebrate Independence Day with Chef Robert Irvine

This Fourth of July, the USO and Service Credit Union brought a very special event to Ansbach, Germany—a BBQ Celebration with Chef Robert Irvine. Over 1,500 service members and families participated in fun activities and shared summer foods to celebrate Independence Day. “It was amazing seeing ‘the best hometown in Europe’ come together to provide such a meaningful July 4th celebration,” said Area Operations Manager, Joe Duran. Here are five memorable moments from a full day of American-style fun:

1. Chef Irvine selected members of the audience to a hot dog eating challenge where each contestant had to eat five fully loaded hot dogs as fast as possible. A large crowd circled the table and rooted for their favorites as participants absolutely demolished the hot dogs. The crowd was in absolute hysterics when the first person finished their plate. First and second place winners received some awesome Chef Irvine prizes and a full stomach.

   

   Joe Duran, Area Ops Manager, hosts an exciting game of ‘Snach-it’ for military families.

2. Emcee Joe Duran welcomed eight participants, a mix of kids and adults, on stage to play a game of speed and agility called Snatch-it, where the first person to snatch a bowling pin while being distracted, wins. After four fun rounds and lots of laughter, the final winner was decided by volume of cheering from the audience. A ten-year-old girl walked away with the loudest cheers as the supreme Snatch-it champion.

3. What started out as a simple water balloon toss with kids assembled in two lines facing each other, turned into an all-out water balloon fight. Children loved the reusable water balloons so much, they continually returned to reload. Kids chased parents and chased each other, while Chef Irvine participated as well. The water balloons created a relaxed and playful atmosphere, where families could connect and enjoy the day together.

4. Service Credit Union brought an amazing blue tricycle to the event with a cool way to beat the heat: a build in cooler full of ice cream! Chef Irvine discovered the tricycle and immediately started riding around the hangar lifting spirits with cool treats.

5.Before attending the Independence Day Celebration, Chef Irvine was escorted around base by USO staff. He met and took photos with service members at Storck Barracks and the Exchange, spoke with culinary service members preparing food for the festivities, and visited with deployed soldiers at Urlas Kaserne. A few service members approached Chef Irvine, explaining they had met him before while deployed to austere locations. Chef Irvine remembered every past base visit and made every soldier feel special.

Kimberley Culverhouse-Steadman, USO Ansbach Center Manager reflected, “It was cool seeing the dynamics of working with these partners to put on a program that could impact people here. Watching each component come together with a focus on our service members and community was great. Every time a member of Chef Irvine’s team or Service Credit Union said something, it was focused on the service members.” Events like this are so important for troops stationed abroad to feel a sense of community, for families to come together and feel connected to home.