Joint Base Andrews – October 5, 2013

Formerly known as Andrews Air Force Base, Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, is now home to four branches of the military: Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. There are roughly 6,000 residents on base, but it’s probably best known for housing Air Force One and Two. JBA protects the nation’s capital air space, as well.

After the huge success at Ft. Bragg in July, all of us at T3 (Thanking Our Troops through Tennis) began planning for the next event at Joint Base Andrews. We quickly learned that, while no two events are alike, some constants remain….like the weather and other factors that we cannot control, such as government shut-downs.

Ft. Bragg’s over-riding concern was the weather. Torrential downpours threatened to make the event a wash-out. Although rain was not in the forecast at Joint Base Andrews, unusually high temperatures in the upper 80‘s had everyone wondering if they really wanted to spend a day on sweltering hard courts.

The number two concern at JBA was the looming threat of the government shut-down. Security is always an issue anywhere you go, but on military bases, it’s a way of life. Would we be able to bring tennis to the troops with only skeleton crews covering for furloughed workers? We collectively held our breaths and hoped that the special event wouldn’t be canceled.

As it turned out, Lt. Angela Urbina made the final call and decided to let us go ahead with the event. Thanks, LT Urbina! I wonder if she even knew that she was a tennis player….after two sessions on the court, she had us all wondering why she wasn’t on tour! A special thanks goes out to Sargeant Todd Jones, who worked with LT Urbina to make it a great day.

The weekend started Friday evening with a social event at The Club on base. What an amazing treat it was to drive past Air Force Two on our way there! “First Friday’s” are social events hosted by one of the four branches of the military housed at JBA. The event last Friday was hosted by the Air National Guard. T3 pros and support staff got to mingle with our nation’s servicemen and women, and we were honored to be included.

Wing Commander Bill Knight opened the festivities Saturday morning with a very moving speech. He talked about all the sacrifices that military families endure, such as long separations from one another and the moves they are asked to make many times throughout their careers. He thanked the T3 pros for sacrificing their weekend to come out and bring a day of fun to these families, opening doors for some of them and reintroducing the game to others.

Colonel Knight also pointed out the similarities between a sport such as tennis and the military, recognizing the discipline and resiliency it takes to do either well. His remarks were followed by Dick Stockton’s introduction of T3‘s legendary pros: Stan Smith, Gigi Fernandez and JoAnne Russell, followed by an introduction of local pros Kurt Blorstad and Damon Austin. T3 pros Steve and Mario Contardi of Cincinnati, Ohio once again joined us on the court, and this time they brought along two more family members, Steve’s wife, Debbie, and their daughter, Katie Sargent, to help with registration. Thank you, Contardis!
A huge shout- out goes to Suba Saty, Fitness Director of the West Fitness Center and members of his staff, including Charles Stevenson. and Sargeant Todd Jones. We cannot thank them enough. Suba spent endless hours helping organize the event, and no one knows more than he does how tough that was with a reduced work force.

Saturday morning began with temperatures in the upper 70’s, and quickly climbing. Sunblock, visors and hats generously provided by the USO were in demand. The USO also provided lunch for the 130 participants. Thanks Ed Shock, Vice President of Warrior and Family Care Programs, and to Jenn Hall and Beth Messerti for helping serve the food!

The first two tennis sessions saw some pretty interesting shots from players, from rank beginners to collegiate and high school players, to weekend warriors. Colonel Knight and his family, Captain Singleton, Cajun tennis player Dan, West Pointer Khahn Diep, Ed Shock, his daughter Meredith and Sargeant Brian Ferguson all took to the courts.

T3 was thrilled that the USTA partnered with us for this event. Karin Buchholz, Dan Limbago and Catalina made sure that the many kids who participated were exposed to some of the coolest tennis drills ever. It is our sincere hope that the partnership that was started this past weekend continues to grow. We feel that while it’s important to expose as many kids as possible to the game of tennis, it’s just as important that there is a path for continuity. Thank you, Karin!

Any event is only as good as the people who run it. A very special thanks to the Hayes Group. Jenny Tran, Matt and Wendy Salt, Meredith Resnick and Patrice Snow are consummate professionals with a vast array of talents, and they wear many hats. No task was too big or too small for any of them. More than that, we all enjoyed hanging out with them!

Please click on the link to the photo gallery. Trevor Chan was an unexpected surprise as the incredible event photographer. His three loves in life are the military, tennis and photographs….we were happy to combine all three in one day for him.

Once again there were numerous requests for follow-up lessons with longtime USPTA tennis professional, Jaime de Carvalho. He brought along his better half, wife Dawn. Not only is Dawn a teaching pro, as well, but she’s the creative artist behind the military wreathes that T3 presents to special recipients. (Jaime and Dawn also happen to be my parents).

While I’m thanking my family members, I need to mention my little sister, Joy who also happens to be one of our Board Members. I had my brother Colonel Frank de Carvalho to thank in Ft. Bragg, and now I thank my sister at JBA. Along with Kurt Blorstad, Jaime and Dawn, she gave a one- hour private lesson to 6-year-old Marvin Washington, after he showed up too late for the kid’s session.

Once again, T3 thanks Babolat for the racquets and shoes they so generously donated for the raffles- what a thrill to be able to win such high quality equipment.

A special thanks to Kevin Wensing of the Director Military Outreach, first and foremost for being such an awesome pen pal all these years, for making so many connections for us, for introducing T3 to the “right people,” and for letting us play tennis with his adorable daughter, Grace (who also happens to be an amazing soccer player).

Another heart-felt thank you goes out to Randy Gerber, Director of Military Sales for Disney, who always finds a way to be there for us and for our causes.

Sometimes you find people unexpectedly, and they turn out to be an invaluable resource. Liz Waters is that person. She took charge of getting the word out to schools and to kids’ programs to ensure that we had a good turn-out. It was a pleasure to meet her and her wonderful family.

When all the clinics were over, after everyone enjoyed the lunch provided by the USO food truck, the legend pros played an exhibition. I’m sure Stan and Gigi will want revenge on Dick and JoAnne for the loss…..Colonel Hartman had a blast on the sidelines, trash-talking Dick.

After the exhibition, Stan and Dick spent some time playing against some of the local talent. Fernando, an up- and- coming junior player could barely keep himself off the court during the Pro-Am, standing side by side with the “big boys” on the baseline.

By 5:00, T3 was packed up and ready to plan its next event. Possible venues are Ft. Jackson in South Carolina and or Ft. Bliss in Texas. We are in the process of conducting a “hot-wash” (a military term that means an evaluation of sorts) and will use the blue prints from Ft. Bragg and JBA to ensure another successful event.

Thanks to everyone. Words don’t come close to expressing how grateful we are to all of you.

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