Military family appreciation day at Zoo Idaho

Saturday was Pocatello’s “Military Family Appreciation Day.”

This is Pocatello’s ninth year doing the event, but only the third year at Zoo Idaho. Zoo Idaho offered not only their venue, but free admission for military members, veterans and their families.

Inside the zoo, there were games for kids, a bounce house, a massage chair, and other services for military members. There were also hot dogs and hamburgers. Pocatello mayor Brian Blad also made and handed out cotton candy.

Heidi Young, family assistance coordinator with the Idaho State Military Division Programs, said events like this area a great way for service members and their families to come out, have fun and get a little gratitude for their service.

“i think a lot of times we remember that our service members are out there and they’re doing their jobs and our veterans have done it before them but we sometimes forget that they have a family, they have spouses, they have children, they have grandchildren, aunts, uncles,” Young said. “They have families that support them through their service and so we’re here to make sure that those families know that they are appreciated as well.”

Young said they usually get between 250 and 300 families out the military appreciation day each year. Young added that if any military family needs help, call the military family services at the local national guard office.