MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Service members danced and spent a special evening with their daughters during the 7th annual Father-Daughter Dance at the Fieldhouse aboard the depot, Jan. 31.
The dance theme was an enchanted fairy forest. For a 10 dollar fee, patrons enjoyed a dance floor, long lines of food and beverages along with music to dance along to. Daughters wore dresses that matched the theme of the dance; some even wore wings. Fathers wore suits or their military dress uniforms.
“Events such as these can take weeks to plan and we want to make it special because this annual dance is a time for fathers and their daughters to bond and build a strong relationship with each other,” said Sarah C. Heath, links trainer. “Every year this dance is well attended and it’s always a special night for all the fathers and daughters.”
A Marine’s job can take away a lot of time from their families. Drill instructors, who work long-strenuous hours during the 13-week recruit training cycle, have little time to spend with their families and can sometimes make it stressful and hard to build a relationship with their family.
Events like the Father-Daughter Dance, allows Marines to take a few hours from their jobs and spend it making cherishable moments with their daughters.
“Between the drill field and deployments, I have to be away from my family quite often and when I am home my wife and kids are usually asleep,” said Staff Sgt. Glen Allen Jr., drill instructor. “Events like these are put together to show the Marine Corps cares and to show interest in its’ Marines.”
The memories that are made at the Father-Daughter Dance, I will always remember and so will my daughter, explained Allen.
According to Heath, the event will continue to be held each year because of the amount of participants and the joy the event brings out when daughters get to spend quality time with their fathers.
“When there are events like this put together I take advantage because it gives me time away from work to be able to spend time with my family,” said Sgt. Joshua L. Waters-Jackson. “During the three deployments I was a part of, I missed my family a lot and this event helps me make up lost time with my daughter.”
Events such as Trunk or Treat, Turkey Trot, and the St. Patrick’s Day 5K are just a few events, other than the Father-Daughter Dance, that give service members an opportunity to spend time with their families. The relationship a Marine has with his family is important to keep morale high throughout the Marine Corps.