Fathers, daughters share evening at annual Winter Ball

Each daughter was handed a gem-encrusted tiara as they entered the second annual Father Daughter Winter Ball at the Landing Zone on Jan. 8.

About 75 fathers and daughters attended the event.

Community Center Director Paul Hopkins said his staff was brainstorming new ideas last year and one of the team members had attended a father-daughter event and suggested it for Cannon Air Force Base. He said 125 attended last year.

“We’re creating those life-long memories,” Hopkins said. “We get so busy we don’t take time for our kids and this is an opportunity to do that.”

Maj. Barry Wells attended with six of his seven daughters.

“This is perfect for us,” he said. “The more the merrier is our family motto.”

Wells said he and his daughters spend a lot of time together but it’s nice to have an event specifically for them. He said his girls like to dress up.

“We all do,” Wells said. “It’s a great time to see how beautiful they are.”

Master Sgt. Christopher Thomas said his 7-year-old daughter Alaura talked about the event the whole week before it took place.

“It’s good. This gives a chance for fathers to bond with their daughters,” he said. “It shows them how a date should be when they get older.”