Holiday celebrations come early for families of deployed members

  • Published
  • By Debbie Aragon
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  It may have only been mid November, but the halls in the Patriot Club were fully decked with Christmas cheer Nov. 17 as loved ones gathered for Holiday Connections 09.

The annual event, which began about nine years ago, brings together families of deployed members and gives them a feeling of camaraderie when a loved one is away during this time of year, said Tech. Sgt. Shannon Tabor, Airman and Family Readiness Center readiness NCO and Holiday Connections 09 coordinator.

"The holidays are about being together," Sergeant Tabor said, "and I think being at (events like Holiday Connections) really gives families a feeling of togetherness and lifts their spirits."

Cora Beth Schroer, wife of Maj. Michael Schroer with the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, attended Holiday Connections with daughters, 4-year-old Natalie and 7-month-old Lauren.

"Holidays are so special and important because it's all about family time," Mrs. Schroer said. "When you can't be a complete family, it's nice to be with the Air Force family instead."

Mrs. Schroer, who lives in LaVista, said she isn't around the Air Force community very often.

"My non-military friends are awesome and helpful," Mrs. Schroer said, "but they don't quite get it. When my husband is deployed and I come to (events like this), when I'm around other women who are in the same boat as me, it gives me a sense of community and refreshes me for the rest of the deployment. "

Major Schroer, whose unit deploys for shorter periods of time but very frequently, deployed mid-October but hopes to be home by Christmas morning.
The Schroer family spent the Christmas season apart last year with the major watching his oldest daughter opening her presents via a Web cam.

"He said it was like looking through a window into our living room," Mrs. Schroer said, "but it was nice to at least have that."

Similar to a Web cam "window," the heartfelt items sent to deployed members following Holiday Connections give military families another way to stay close during the holiday season.

As soon as they entered the Patriot Club, loved ones were surrounded with holiday cheer courtesy of volunteers from various helping agencies on base and several civilian organizations. As they strolled through the various rooms, spouses, children and extended family members took part in activities from visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus and having their photos taken with them, to making picture frames, holiday cards, ornaments or personalized pillow cases. They also enjoyed a free meal and recorded a video message for their loved ones courtesy of the American Red Cross.

Once gifts were made, families simply stopped by the mailing station to put them in a flat rate envelope to have them sent overseas, another service courtesy of the ARC.

By holding the event now, packages should be received by deployed loved ones right in the middle of the holidays and raise their spirits, Sergeant Tabor said.

"I've talked to a couple of people who were gone last year around the holidays," said Sergeant Tabor, "and they said they really loved to receive the heartfelt items like the cards, pictures and pillowcases. We could pack boxes full of candy and things like that, but it's the heartfelt items that really make a difference."

Base and civilian agencies such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Base Chapel and Family Child Care had also set up numerous tables to provide information and assistance as needed.

"We were able to give families lots of information on many base agencies," said Mary Burden, volunteer deployed events coordinator for the Base Chapel and wife of Master Sgt. Kenneth Burden with the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Sergeant and Mrs. Burden decided they wanted to give back to Offutt so they volunteered to help with events for the families of deployed members.

"In the four years we've been doing (Holiday Connections), my husband has been gone for two of them," Mrs. Burden explained. Although he's currently deployed, the family hopes Sergeant Burden will return before Christmas.

"When you attend an event like Holiday Connections, there's a real sense of community between others in the same boat and the kids when they come here know they're not the one ones," Mrs. Burden said.

She noted that it's often the little things that really help when a family has a loved one deployed.

"Just not having to cook one night and do dishes," she said. "Little things like that are very important. We get lots of feedback that they really appreciate the things that we do."

In addition to Holiday Connections, Offutt helping agencies plan three other deployed family events throughout the year - a Valentine event in February, a spring event in April or May and a summer event in July or August.

Families wanting more information on these events can email mary.burden@offutt.af.mil for more information.