Canceling base's Tattoo leaves a mark

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (WDTN) - A beeping sound let's those at the Riverside Drive-Thru know they have another customer rolling in, but it's a noise that the drive-thru may be hearing less of on what used to be one of its biggest days.

"It's going to make a little difference because we've been fairly busy on Tattoo day," says owner Uday Patel.

The drive-thru is just one of the area businesses caught under the wheels of the Freedom's Call Tattoo cancellation.

2 NEWS found out today just how much the base will be saving by cutting the patriotic celebration. In all about $300,000 not including what sponsors chip in.

"We simply cannot spend appropriated tax dollars on such events as Tattoo this year," says 88th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Cassie Barlow.

Instead Wright-Patt will be using money it generates from on-base exchanges and restaurants to hold a scaled back version of Tattoo at the Air Force Museum.

"It'll be a much smaller event in terms of no big concert, no big stage, it'll be bring your lawn chair and come and enjoy the fireworks with us," Barlow says.

It remains to be seen if that event will draw the 75,000 people that Tattoo normally does, but base officials think it will still be a way of showing their appreciation.

"We hope to put on a nice celebration," Barlow says. "Not quite a Tattoo that the Miami Valley is used to but a nice celebration to really thank the community."

Barlow says the tattoo cancellation is just the first of the impacts the community will feel because of sequestration cuts at the base.

Those at the drive-thru and around the area are doing their best to roll with them.

"I've been in this business for a long time and I've survived and we'll survive this too," Patel says. "Just have to make some compromise."

Barlow says whether Tattoo returns in 2014 will depend on what happens with the budget.