Treating Guard families with spooktacular fun & resources
Over 1,000 Utah National Guard family members came to Camp Wiliams on 17 October, 2026 as the Utah National Guard Child and Youth Programs hosted its annual Trunk or Treat. Held at the Aaron Butler Readiness Center, over 30 booths and trunks provided parents and children alike with everything from reading books, financial flyers, and safety tips to the essential cotton candy, popcorn, hot dogs and of candy-filled cauldrons associated with this time of year.
Although events such as these are typically focused on spooktacular Halloween costumes, treats, and hauntingly good fun, this year’s Trunk or Treat provided more than just a sugar rush to attendees. Booths from military and community agencies handed out resources for safety, emergency preparedness, personal development, and financial resilience, while others offered American flags and free books for military children. Children were invited to step into new experiences by firefighters, police officers, and Special Forces personnel as they climbed aboard emergency vehicles, police cruisers, and military transports. Each station served as a magic portal to learn about the supportive network of community partners that stand behind our military families.
Julia Tateoka, lead Child & Youth Programs coordinator for the Utah National Guard offered, “By inviting community partners, service members and their families can connect to resources that can enhance their readiness for whatever comes their way - whether that be a deployment, supporting their children's learning, or transitioning from military to civilian life.”
While rockets of candy were exploding outside, children conjured up creativity inside with a variety of crafts and games while families shared spellbinding conversations and laughter. These interactions helped break down unfamiliarity, weaving strong new bonds of friendship and community camaraderie. Tateoka continued, “The UTNG Child & Youth Program's Annual Trunk or Treat provides a space for military families to connect and engage with each other and other military families. It's a great way for UTNG families to see our program as another area of support so members can focus on their duties, readiness, and resilience.”
The Utah Air National Guard hosted a similar event on 24 October, 2026 at the Roland R. Wright Air Base in Salt Lake City, UT. The 151st Force Support Squadron (FSS) organized the event to deliver an exciting day packed with thrills, where children delighted in bounce houses and experienced shrieks of terror and fun inside a spooky haunted house. Tech Sgt. Dallen Brown and his family won best costume dressed in blonde wigs and pink outfits, while Lt. Col. Barry Gorringe, commander of the 151st FSS, and his family won best trunk with a movie theater themed trunk that included fresh popcorn and walk of fame pictures.
Tateoka shared that her favorite thing about the Trunk or Treat is seeing families connect to resources they might need for their families. Serving a community of more than 8,000 Utah National Guard service members, gatherings like these highlight the profound support and genuine gratitude extended to the families who serve alongside them.
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