The Forks Township Board of Supervisors has granted permission to allow alcohol consumption at a state Army National Guard Deployment Picnic.

Township Manager John Cornell, at Thursday's Board of Supervisors meeting, said the Army asked for the request in a July 3 letter, stating that there would be a two-drink maximum.

The event will take place Sept. 8 at the pavilion on Sullivan Trail.

After quick action calling for a motion by Supervisors Bob Egolf and David Billings, Supervisor John O'Neil slowed things down.

"We have no alcohol in the park and only on Community Days, yet we are making an exception here?" he said. "How many exceptions are we going to make? To honor deployment doesn't mean you have to serve alcohol."

"That was my concern about Community Days," Egolf stated. "What got me was the military enforcing the two-drink maximum. Here we have the military saying it. We have a promise."

Billings said that if there are any violations, "the military will do a lot more than we could." He added that incidents should be low since the Guard is deploying two days later.

"It's the right thing to do," he said. "I have faith in the military."

Supervisor Dan Martyak wondered how many people would be at the picnic and whether Police Chief Greg Dorney was comfortable with the arrangement. The chief said he was.

The motion was approved.