Local family hosts bash for Rodeo 2011 participants

People line up for food at the LeMay Museum in Tacoma, Wash.,on July 23, 2011, during an icebreaker event for participants in Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The LeMay family and the City of Lakewood Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Jared Trimarchi)

Local family hosts bash for Rodeo 2011 participants

Classic cars are shown at the LeMay Museum in Tacoma, Wash.,on July 23, 2011, during an icebreaker event for participants in Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The LeMay family and the City of Lakewood Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Jared Trimarchi)

Local family hosts bash for Rodeo 2011 participants

People from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., are shown at the LeMay Museum in Tacoma, Wash.,on July 23, 2011, during an icebreaker event for participants in Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 happening at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The LeMay family and the City of Lakewood Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Jared Trimarchi)

Local family hosts bash for Rodeo participants

Published July 24, 2011
By Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash., -- -- Thousands of mobility Airmen gathered at America's Car Museum near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., as guests of the LeMay family and the City of Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, for an ice breaker July 23.

The event was a precursor to the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, a biennial international competition that focuses on mission readiness, featuring airdrops, aerial refueling and other events that showcase the skills of mobility crews from around the world. The social gave the Airmen and members of several internal teams a chance to eat, drink and talk together before the Rodeo challenges begin.

This was the fifth time the LeMays have hosted a social as a precursor to Rodeo. The family has a long history of supporting the military.

"I love to hear the planes fly overhead and seeing all the people gathered here," Nancy LeMay said. "It's always a special occasion when we get to have this many people over and seeing so many from around the world."

The LeMay family has collected thousands of automobiles over the years for their museum. The 87 acres that make up the museum grounds proved a perfect place to hold such a large social event, according to Linda Smith, the president and CEO of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.

"The military here is such a huge part of our community, so this is just our way of giving back," she said. "It's especially nice to see all the international teams get involved."

For Adjutant Joris Retty, a C-130 loadmaster from the Belgium air force, this year marks his third Rodeo. He was previously here in 2005 and 2009. When one of his teammates fell ill, he jumped at the chance to come back and help coach the rest of his team.

"Nothing motivates me more than the spirit of competition," the E-7 said. "It's great to meet people from other nations and socialize. I actually went to loadmaster school at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, so it's nice to be back in America. I can't wait to get started."

The competition started July 24 and culminates at the end of the week with the crowning of the Rodeo champion. The 62nd Air Mobility Wing from McChord won the last Rodeo in 2009.