Defense Logistics Agency military members from the McNamara Headquarters Complex got a head start on the weekend with barbecue and good-natured service rivalry during the annual DLA Military Picnic Sept. 21.
“Before I say ‘Go Navy,’ let me tell all of you thank you and you’re doing a really great job,” DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek said in kicking off the afternoon’s events. “We’re doing some big things here at DLA in Afghanistan, here in the states and all over the world, and I expect all of you to do some big things. That’s why you’re here as military folks. You know what to do, so go do it.”
This year, Harnitchek introduced the “DLA Director’s Sabre,” a Marine Corps noncommissioned officer’s sword that was donated by DLA Vice Director Ted Case as a prize for the military service branch with the highest score in several games played throughout the day.
Case said he found the sword when he was a Navy ensign assigned to a crew that offloaded the USS Robert E. Lee ballistic missile submarine in 1976 before its final overhaul.
“We could not figure out how it got on the ship or how to return it the rightful owner, so we kept it hoping someday to be able to return it to service,” Case said. “I figured if we could give it the winning DLA service team at the picnic, that would be a good end for a piece of military history.”
The Air Force team swept all the sporting events, beating out the Army and combined Navy-Marine Corps teams in dodge ball, volleyball and Trivial Pursuit for an overall score of 9 to the Army’s 5 and Navy-Marine Corps’ 4 points.
At the end of the picnic, Harnitchek presented the DLA Director’s Sabre to the Air Force representative, who will hold the prize until next year’s picnic.
“It was a great event and a wonderful way to celebrate DLA’s military teamwork,” said Air Force Col. Mike Cannon, who accepted the sword on behalf of the Air Force team. “All of the competitions were hard-fought, forcing our team to pull off some impressive come-from-behind victories. It was a good day to be an Airman and a great day to be part of DLA.”