Andrews hosts annual Military Appreciation Event

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Woman with children stand in front of a table booth.

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A Joint Base Andrews family approaches a food booth for a complimentary lunch during Military Appreciation Day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 19, 2026. The installation's chapel coordinated the annual event to honor service members and their families across the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Tylan Alicea)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Nnaemeka Uzoukwu, left, a religious affairs journeyman assigned to the 316th Wing, and Airman Dany Baker, a command and control operations controller assigned to the 316th Wing, enjoy cups of shaved ice from a food truck during Military Appreciation Day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 19, 2026. The event was planned to bring in local vendors to show appreciation and foster a sense of community for service members and their families on the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Tylan Alicea)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Molly Manuel Fernandez, a network operations communicator assigned to the 744th Communications Squadron, receives a complimentary lunch during Military Appreciation Day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 19, 2026. Local vendors participated in the annual event to honor service members and their families on the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Tylan Alicea)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan G. Walinski, the 316th Wing and installation deputy commander, gives opening remarks on Military Appreciation Day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 19, 2026. The event recognized and honored service members and their families across the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Tylan Alicea)

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Military and Family Readiness Center staff members host an information table during Military Appreciation Day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 19, 2026. The staff provided resources and information about available on- and off-base services to service members and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mauricio Hidalgo)

People standing on a long line in front of food truck.

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Service members and their families gather outside the base chapel during Military Appreciation Day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 19, 2026. The event was designed to foster morale and bolster a sense of community across the installation to honor all service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mauricio Hidalgo)

People standing on a line in front of a food truck.

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260519-F-JL239-1071

Service members and their families wait in line for shaved ice from a food truck during Military Appreciation Day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 19, 2026. Local businesses participated in the event to show support for service members and their families across the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mauricio Hidalgo)

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –

The base chapel hosted the Annual Military Appreciation Event to recognize and honor installation service members and their families, May 19, 2026.

The initiative aimed to strengthen morale, foster a sense of community and reinforce the chapel's role in supporting spiritual resilience.

U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan G. Walinski, the 316th Wing and installation deputy commander, delivered opening remarks as attendees received complimentary lunches from local vendors while Military and Family Readiness Center staff hosted an information table to connect personnel with essential support resources.

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