DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Members of the 94th Airlift Wing gathered Aug. 4 at the base lakeside facility to celebrate the truly important members of the 94th AW community - their families.

Col. Tim Tarchick, 94th AW commander, welcomed all the families and recognized the 2013 Spouse of the Year, Lauren Oswald, 94th information security specialist and wife of Staff Sgt. Charles Oswald, 94th security forces specialist.

"I'm so proud of her," said Charles Oswald. "She earned it. She embodies the core value of Service Before Self. She's like a good noncommissioned officer, where the troops come first. She's a key spouse, so the families come first. She keeps in regular contact with the families of our deployers."

Family-oriented festivities also included the Dobbins Fire Department's live mock office burn, fire muster competition, Frisbee toss competition, free face painting, college and military benefits fair and peruse offers from various local businesses. For example, attendees could also get in on the action as they cheered on their favorite medieval knight from local entertainment venue, Medieval Times.

An annual tradition, Family Day is a popular event serving to keep our families at home connected with our families at Dobbins.

Hailed as being the ones that make the biggest sacrifice, the spouses often hold high rank within the household. Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Peacock, 94th AW command chief, who had his wife in attendance, is no exception as Family Day attendees affectionately began referring to Janet Peacock as the "real command chief."

"Everyone needs a strong family support system at home," said Janet Peacock. "Without the support of our families it is difficult to accomplish the mission. The Family Day picnic is a wonderful opportunity to show our families how much they are appreciated."