DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Across Georgia and much of the country, summer isn’t marked by a day on the calendar but rather the sudden spike in temperature and the ever-present smell of fresh grass clippings and burning charcoal. The same also holds true for Dobbins – especially toward the end of July when the annual Corn and Sausage Roast kicks off in full swing.
For many, this event serves as a break from a typical weekday lunch of bologna sandwiches or frozen burritos. Instead, volunteers manned the grills and an assortment of tables to offer Dobbins members grilled bratwurst and corn, with all the fixings you’d expect at a summer cookout.
This popular cookout came from humble beginnings as a social event for members of the Square and Compass Club on base. It wasn’t until the Family Readiness director at the time, Mr. Ritter, came to the group with the idea of using the Roast as a fundraiser for the Dobbins Emergency Relief Fund, explained Dallas Godfrey, a retired chief master sergeant who served 34 years in the Air Force.
“I think the lowest amount we’ve ever raised is $1,600 and the most is $2,100 or $2,200,” said Godfrey.
This event is about more than grilling bratwursts and raising money to those who help coordinate it, as it provides an opportunity for many retirees to return to the military base they left so many years ago and to give back to current military members. Throughout the cookout, they also talked about the good old days with other retirees.
“Once a marine, always a marine,” said Ted Rambo, a retired Marine Corps sergeant major who served a total of 30 years. He was one of many retirees manning the grills and was appropriately sporting a Marine Corps apron and a Marine Corps baseball cap. “I miss it. There’s a lot of camaraderie. I miss living on the base. Things are different on the base then they are out in the civilian world.”
He said his favorite parts of being on base are how clean and quiet things are in addition to the convenience of having everything you need within reach. But his favorite aspect is still the camaraderie, which doesn’t stop with those he served with before he retired but also includes his brothers and sisters in arms currently serving.
“I wish we could sell more meal tickets and raffle tickets,” said Rambo. “That way we would have more money to present to the relief fund.”
He discussed how important the relief fund can be for military families who might be hit with unexpected bills while a service member is deployed.
Godfrey also discussed the camaraderie at the cookout, which serves as a place for friends both new and old to meet for lunch under the shade of the trees by Verhulst Hall.
“I served with a lot of people who are still in,” said Godfrey. “It’s good to see them. We’ve got all these retirees who come out here and help us do this. It’s just a good social event.”
As this year’s Corn and Sausage Roast comes to an end, the grills are cleaned and put away and the last trash bags of empty plates are taken to the dumpster. The faintest smell of grilled sausages and corn remains in the air around Dobbins – a reminder of good times with friends sharing stories from the past and looking forward to future moments to spend together again.