Team Mildenhall enjoys Pumpkin Patrol with local community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexandria Lee
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Team Mildenhall welcomed the local community for Pumpkin Patrol, Oct. 31, 2019, just outside RAF Mildenhall in Beck Row, England.

This is the first time in several years that RAF Mildenhall has opened up its housing area to the local community for Halloween.

“I’m glad to have a place to take my family for trick-or-treating that celebrates similar to the way they do it in the states, and my daughter gets to bring her friends along. British or American, everyone gets candy,” said Staff Sgt. Jackson Earl, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron noncommissioned officer-in charge of operator records and licensing.

The local community was also excited to be a part of the American tradition of trick-or-treating.

“Living in England, this doesn’t usually happen; this is new for me,” said Jackie Adowoa, British local national. “Trick-or-treating happens in some areas, but nowhere near this scale.”

The Pumpkin Patrol took place in a base housing community that is typically restricted from those without base access. Halloween is one special occasion where the U.S. military community opened itself to the local area with the help of security forces.

“It is the intent of Team Mildenhall to ensure that the community ties between the RAF military members and the U.K citizens grow stronger by letting the U.K families enjoy one of Tolly Cobbold’s most enjoyable family events,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Burton, 100th Security Forces investigator.

The Pumpkin Patrol is an event focused toward the base youth to have a full community dedicated to the American tradition of trick-or-treating, with nearly every house participating in some way.

“I think this is really nice, it’s great being able to involve the whole community and being inclusive. I’m excited for next year,” exclaimed Adowoa.