Lilacs4Angels: How I Spent My Saturday

At 3:30 a.m. the alarm went off.

We left our daughter's at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at the property adjacent to the Lerdo Correctional Facility in Lerdo.

VOLKSLAUF! (go to http://www.volkslauf.com/ for more information)

The Volkslauf event kicks off the 2008 Toys for Tots program in Kern County.

There was a 5K and a 10K and then a Jr Volkslauf

We were there to support our grandson who is in the Young Marine program. Some of the Young Marines participated in the runs. This is a photo of a few of the Young Marines in formation waiting for instructions. During the races and after the Jr Volkslauf the Young Marines were policing the area. Recyclables are collected with the monies going to the Young Marine program.

The day of races started with Old Glory being raised by the Kern County Fire Department. Our National Anthem was sung and then was "Let the Games Begin!"

The races started with a bang...Civil War reenactment group started each race with a Civil War era cannon...

Here are some of the children participating in their course...yes it is real mud!

Another mud pit!

This is the back of Dakota...doesn't look like much but those jeans are soaked with mud ...muddy!

After the runs participates could get rinsed off by the Kern County Fire Department

Here he is...all cleaned up and ready to police the area...again!

Quite a few of the runners were using duct tape to tape their shoes to their feet. Afterwards they just ripped the tape off and left it were it landed. Thank goodness for our Young Marines! Cleaning up after grown men and women!

Oh and we must not forget Dakota's father, our son-in-law, Scott, a former United States Marine! He dressed for the occasion. Scott volunteered to help...he was put out on the course and looked what happened to him...