‘‘We’re all about patient and family-centered care, and that care starts with our staff and their families,” said Capt. Tammy Nathan, wife of NNMC Commander Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan and the head of Family Fun Committee. ‘‘When you feel as though a command doesn’t care about you, it’s hard to care about the command.”

The Family Fun Committee brought together more than 10 groups, clubs and associations from around the base to include the enlisted associations, the Oakleaf Club, Red Cross, USO, Morale, Welfare and Recreation and the command ombudsman to support the event.

‘‘We had so much command and patient participation,” Nathan said. ‘‘The ones who really put this event together though were the 1st Class Petty Officers’ Association, the 2nd Class Petty Officers’ Association and the Junior Enlisted Association. They were the backbone of this whole thing.”

The day was originally scheduled as a two-part event, a costume contest and fun booths during the day and a family fun festival in the evening for staff members to bring their children to. Due to concerns of H1N1, the latter was canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date.

‘‘The whole thing went really good, even though the evening’s events were canceled,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Johnalexis Cerame, who participated in the planning of the event with the 1st Class Petty Officers’ Association. ‘‘I wish I could have brought my son that night but it’s OK, I still got to spend time with him and had fun at work.”

The event, which ran from noon to 2 p.m., included numerous game and prize booths, face painting, caramel apple making, a haunted maze and a costume contest.

‘‘The costume contest was amazing,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Matthew Miles, who works in the blood bank at NNMC. ‘‘Everyone put a lot of thought and effort into their costumes and they looked great. I dressed up as Magnum P.I. and I received so many compliments.”

Miles took 3rd place in the contest, which Nathan, NNMC Deputy Commander Capt. Daniel Zinder and Command Master Chief (SS⁄SW⁄FMF) Sherman Boss, judged.

Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Paolo Ysmael Salazar, who works in Quality Assurance, won the contest as he dressed up as the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.

‘‘His outfit was hilarious,” Miles said. ‘‘He definitely deserved to win. He made the whole costume himself and it looked amazing.”

Miles said the day was a complete success and everyone seemed to bond with each other and enjoy themselves.

‘‘I love these types of events and I really look forward to the command sponsoring more things like this,” he said. ‘‘The amount of participation from everyone was just fantastic.”

Nathan said the next family fun event will be a holiday party in December.