MIDLAND, Texas — First responders are always the first guys in and the last guys out but on Saturday, May 11th, it was all about them living out their luau dreams.
Saturday, May 11 marked the 8th Annual First Responders Appreciation Day hosted by American Legion for all local first responders and the community to come enjoy.
More often times than not, when you interact with first responders, it may not be your best day, but this celebration served as an opportunity to change that.
The theme for 2024 was aloha vibes only and family fun.
"We live in the desert, being out in Midland, so we wanted to think about a warm and sandy place," said American Legion Service Officer Tina Grace. "We wanted to think about somewhere that's a nice sandy beach somewhere that we would all like to go on vacation."
The event was made for the entire family to enjoy with something for everyone.
"There's going to be a BBQ lunch that is by donation," Grace said. "And also we have blow up activities. We have a bull, we have sumo wrestling, If the rain breaks, there's a rock climbing wall, there's obstacle course, and we're also going to have two bands play. We have Warner and Forbes and we have Tall City as well."
Each year the money raised is donated to a local department of first responders and the 2024 recipient is the Greenwood Fire Department.
"Especially with volunteer fire departments, they don't get the funding that our regular city fire departments get, so we try to help out any way we can," said Midland Post 19 American Legion Chaplain Jose Trevino. "I mean, one thing about being here at the American Legion, I learned that not only do I continue serving my country, but I helped to serve our community as well."
But this event is not just about raising money, it's about saying thank you.
"You get to see them as a real person, they have families, they have children, and spouses here with them today," Grace said. "You get to see that they are real people as well, so the circumstances that they see the citizens in affect them as people as well. So this is a chance for us to thank them for sacrificing their lives for perfect strangers."