SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Force Support Squadron Carolina Skies Club and Conference Center staff hosted a “Royal Affair” father-daughter princess ball here, Feb. 18.
The event gave Team Shaw members the opportunity to make memories and invest time with their families, fulfilling one of the commander’s enduring priorities of family - deliberately caring for and supporting those who sacrifice to support Team Shaw.
“Every daughter is their father’s princess,” said Jack Lonergan, 20th FSS Carolina Skies Club manager. “We wanted to make it a spectacular event for them.”
The Carolina Skies Club staff worked for two days arranging the “royal” decorations for the event, hanging tulle above the dance floor and creating a grand entryway of pink balloons. Upon arrival, the princesses received tiaras and during dinner were treated to table service.
Throughout the night, families were able to dance to music provided by a disc jockey, take family pictures in a green-screen studio and participate in various activities.
“When you’re deployed you don’t get to make memories like this, you’re doing it all through the telephone or a computer,” said Master Sgt. James Greer, 20th Component Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion material support section chief. “These are the key moments these kids are going to remember for the rest of their lives.”
Some fathers brought daughters as young as 1 year old; one father brought his adult daughter along with her husband and child. More than 100 father-daughter pairs signed up for the event, some parents bringing multiple daughters.