Running for candy isn't typically the theme to most organizational fun runs, but it is when only one day remains until the Camp Murray Washington National Guard Youth Program's Trunk or Treat event.

Servicemembers not only had the opportunity to bring their children to a safe trick-or-treating environment in costume, but to dress in costume themselves while they ran to help benefit that same event they and many other military families would attend as well.

Running for a cause, even when that cause is candy, is a value that has become typical with dozens of Washington National Guard fun runs held throughout the year.

And the winner for the best-decorated trunk at the Camp Murray Trunk or Treat is ... Federal HRO.  Multiple organizations, non-profits and Washington National Guard volunteers decorated their trunks for hundreds of youth to enjoy for the annual Camp Murray Trunk or Treat event held on Oct. 24. The best voted trunk received a gift certificate for a complimentary hotel stay donated by the Fairwood Inn in DuPont. Photo credit: Gary Lott

Or it could have just been the fact that the servicemembers wanted to limit the ways in which they felt guilt, while rummaging through their children's candy bags after the Trunk or Treat event.

Either way, there were no limits of smiling faces at either of the two events.

The Joint Services Support Directorate of the Washington National Guard (JSSWA) hosted the Camp Murray Costumed Fun Run, with candy donations welcomed, Friday, Oct. 23 to help increase the candy supply for the popular Trunk or Treat events held for hundreds of military families Saturday, Oct. 24 and 31 by the Guard's youth programs.

Neither of the events, or potential extra dental visits, are made possible without the community.

That same theme is true as well, for the concurrently held Fairchild AFB Trunk or Treat (hosted by the Air Force), or the Trunk or Treat military events to be held in Marysville and Port Orchard (hosted by the Guard) Halloween Day (Oct. 31).

With National Guard servicemembers spread out across the state, the Guard's family programs conducts annual events that allow community members, non-profits, local businesses, volunteers and even fellow servicemembers to get involved, this time to decorate their trunks and hand out candy to military youth.

These are the same military youth and families that they support in multiple ways throughout the year, and the same families that support them locally in times of need with emergency response and domestic operations, as well as from afar with various units currently deployed.  

That's what can make these memories so important to both the parents at the events going solo this year with a spouse deployed, or quite possibly the family attending their first Trunk or Treat all together.

Who would've thought that candy could bring joy in other ways apart from the sweet (or sour) taste?

It wasn't just about candy either, kid-friendly carnival games with toys and books as prizes were available to help burn off some of the sugar and calories from the seemingly unlimited supply of candy available.

The USO Northwest provided complimentary drinks for all those that attended the Trunk or Treat events.

There was also evidence of non-candy related items with the National Guard Association of Washington (NGAW) providing hot dogs and hamburgers at no cost for both the costumed run and Camp Murray Trunk or Treat, with donations going to candy and youth scholarships.

Even the Jermaine Kearse 15 to 1: Foundation to benefit military youth provided an autographed photo to help raise money through the NGAW for military youth scholarships.

The Trunk or Treat events held by the National Guard have become a well-known community event that relies upon the community to help put on.

That model is one that appears to be working, as this year's event had a hundred more attendees than any previous year, and with the same expectations of the Marysville and Port Orchard events as well.