DonatinginthespiritofHalloween

18thMilitaryPoliceBrigade
StorybyCapt.AmandaKehrrington
Date:10.31.2013
Posted:11.05.201310:03
NewsID:116299
CAMPSABALUHARRISON,AfghanistanMorethan200soldiers,sailors,airmenandMarinesdressed
incostumegatheredherefor,theMonsterMash5KDash,aneventheldinthedarkhourstocelebratea
holidayoftricksandtreats.
U.S.ArmySgt.BrittaniDaSilva,TaskForceVigilantseniorintelligenceanalyst,andnativeofMonona,
Iowa,planned,coordinatedandhostedtheeventinhopesofbringingservicememberstogethertohavesome
fun.
IhavealwayslovedHalloweenandthoughtitwouldbefunandsoldiersthoughtitwouldbecooltowear
costumes,saidDaSilva.Itwasforthesoldierssotheycouldhavefunandforget,foronenight,thatthey
areinAfghanistan.
Servicemembersranthe5Kdressedassuperheroesandgoblinstodrinkawitchesbrew,consistingofSpriteandGatorade,outofacaldronatthe
finishline.EveryrunnerreceivedaHalloweenbagfilledwithgoodiesfromHalloweencandytohomemadejellyandatshirt.
DaSilvareceivedgenerousdonationsfromfamilymemberswhowereproudofhereffortstoorganizethisevent.Shespentover45hoursputting
togethertheentireevent,fromcuttingplasticbucketstoresemblepumpkinsandstuffingalltheHalloweenbags,todecoratingjellyjarsandnumerous
othercreativeadditionstothetheme.
MyfamilythoughtitwasreallyneatthatIwasdoingthisandputtingonthisraceforthesoldiersandtheythoughtitsoundedlikealotoffun,said
DaSilvaTheywerereallyproudofmeandtheywantedtodowhattheycouldtohelpout.
Hermother,DiannePhilpott,madeanddonatedover180jarsofjellywithcustommadeHalloweenprintedlids.Additionally,herhusband,Manuel
DaSilva,ateacheratTomsRiverIntermediateSouthMiddleSchoolinN.J.,donatedengravedmedalsandthermosesforthewinnersandseveralbagsof
Halloweencandyhecollectedfromthestaffathisschool.
DaSilvadescribesaconversationwithhermother,viaSkype,whensherevealed,toDaSilva,shewasmakingjelly.Hermotherappearedtotearupwhen
sheexplaineditwasforalltherunners.Herfatheralsoassistedintheeffortsmashingallthegrapes.Together,over16hourswerespentmakingjellyat
home.
Ithoughtthesoldierswouldenjoysomethingfromhomemuchbetterthancandy,saidPhilpott.Ireallyhopethesoldiersenjoyit.IknowIenjoyed

everyminuteofmakingthejellyforallthetroopsintheMonsterMash5KDash.
Herhusbandwasveryproudofherandwantedtocontributeanywayhecould.
AsanAmericanhistoryteacher,Ihavetheprivilegeofteachingouryouthaboutthesacrificesthatbravemenandwomenmakewhileservingthe
UnitedStates,saidManuel.IdecidedtocontributeinordertoshowmyappreciationforthesoldierspartakingintheMonsterMash5kDashevent.
ParticipantssaidthatthiseventraisedthespiritsofallthosehereandmadethisHalloweenmemorable.
Thiseventreallyboostedmymoralealot,Iwaslookingforwardtoitallday,saidSpc.ValorizeSwift,212CombatSupportHospitalpatient
administrationclerk.IwassoexcitedtogetreadyandIhadalotoffun.
DressedasSupermanouthereduringthiswonderfulevent,itboostedusnotjustphysicallybutmentally,saidStaffSgt.WilliamTulloch,724th
MilitaryPoliceBattaliondetaineeservicebranchseniorenlistedadvisortotheAfghanNationalArmy.Themonotonyofeverydayjustwentoutthe
window.
Col.ZaneJones,18thMilitaryPoliceBrigadecommander,presentedDaSilvawithanArmyAchievementMedaltorecognizeherdedicationtothe
troops.
ThiswasthemostwellplannedandexecutedeventIhaveseen,saidJones.Shegavetheservicemembersanopportunitytolettheirhairdown,relax
andhavesomefuntorelievethestressesoftheirdaytodayoperations.
DaSilvashardworkanddedicationtoallservicemembersdidnotgounnoticedasshewasthankedattheendofthenightbymanywhosaidthiswasa
happyHalloweentoremember.