JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- First responders from throughout the Anchorage area gathered June 20 to participate in the 2015 Hero Games in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.
Service members from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson competed against other teams in trials of strength, agility and precision while crowds of community members, families and friends watched and cheered them on.
The Anchorage Downtown Partnership hosted the annual event to honor local emergency service personnel and military members.
The first event was the tire flip-and-roll followed by an agility course, endurance course, scooter race, tug-of-war and various other physical challenges.
"The Hero Games was a great experience overall," said Staff Sgt. Cody Nelson, 673rd Civil Engineer Squadron fire department crew chief, and a native of Arcadia, Nebraska. "The community support, competition and camaraderie made it a very fun and enjoyable event."
Staff Sgt. Geristofer Carrasco, 673rd Dental Squadron dental technician, said he enjoyed the event.
"Even though we didn't place, we displayed the true meaning of teamwork," Carrasco said. "In my eyes, that makes us winners."
This year the 673rd CES Firefighters, JBER Fire Dogs, took first place for the 2015 Hero Games. The 673rd Security Forces Squadron took second place and the Army National Guard placed third.