Barbecue, music and care packages

The Civil Air Patrol was onsite at Hitchcock’s Market Saturday for a Memorial Day celebration to raise money for troops serving overseas.

ALACHUA – People gathered last weekend to eat barbecue and play games, all while supporting a cause.

Last Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hitchcock's Markets in Alachua held a Memorial Day celebration in its parking lot to raise money for the Military Support Group of Alachua, which sends care packages to soldiers overseas. Last year, they raised over $3,000.

“People don't realize everything isn't supplied,” said Tamara Spear, member of the Military Support Group of Alachua, when talking about service members. Her organization sends soldiers everything from toothpaste to socks and games.

This year, about 500 people showed up at the celebration, which included inexpensive food, music, a dunking booth, and an ice slide and bouncy castle for the kids, said Candi Kish, human resources director for Hitchcock's.

“We thought this was a good way to support local military,” Kish said. One of Hitchcock's employees even served in Afghanistan, she added, making the event more meaningful.

The festivities started wrapping up at about 2:30 p.m. when the Gainesville Color Guard held a flag ceremony.

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