Ranch News
11
November | December 2013
Military families learn new ways to keep spirits high during the holidays This is the season when families gather close, old memories are shared, and new ones are made. For many members of the military, the holiday season experience is a little different. Thousands of military service members spend their holidays overseas. Many children and spouses live abroad in deployment locations as well. This leaves numerous families miles away from their extended families and holiday traditions back home. “The deployment locations across seas often become like a little America,” said Noreen Watts, armed forces manager at the American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter. Watts has been with the American Red Cross for several years serving the military stateside, overseas, and in deployment locations. In lieu of having their extended family back home, military families develop their own sense of family and celebrate together. The military families also have the opportunity to celebrate the customs of the country they are in. Watts recalled being on a military base in Japan and attending a Japanese-American Christmas cantata with 300 performers singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” and “Silent Night” in both English and Japanese. She also noted the military hosts events such as Breakfast with Santa–at which kids can get their picture taken with the jolly man–for families both stateside and overseas. “The military tries to make the holidays extra special for service men and women,” Watts said. “Even the
dining facility can get quite extravagant.” At the Red Cross base in Iraq, cooks once made a Yule log cake that was 12 feet long. The USO even puts on traditional shows with big-name performers such as Toby Keith and Granger Smith. New Year’s Eve is also a memorable event with parties full of balloons to mark the festive celebration. “They let the balloons loose at midnight and everyone celebrates,” explained Watts. No alcohol was served, but there was nonalcoholic beer and carbonated grape juice. The aim, Watts explained, is to make the troops feel like they’re home. In the United States, not all families are able to be with the military service members. “This affects the family just as much as the military member because they miss their loved one,” said Watts. If the serviceman or servicewoman is deployed overseas, families may be able to share the holiday together via Skype and open presents over the camera. “I know many military members who would call home on Christmas Eve just to read ‘The Night Before Christmas’ to their kids,” said Watts. Families also send special care packages to their loved one in the military, but need to keep a few things in mind: The military shuts off mail two weeks before troops are moved, and military members are allowed only a limited number of bags. —RaeAnne Marsh
Send a letter of gratitude through the holiday letter-writing program To show support for troops stationed away from their family and familiar home traditions, residents are invited to participate in the Red Cross’ longstanding Holiday Mail for Heroes program. The cards and personal messages, sent by tens of thousands of Americans, provide a welcome “touch of home” for our troops during the holiday season. Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals cannot be delivered through this program. Only cards are being accepted, so please do not send or include letters. All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to: Holiday Mail for Heroes P.O. Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 The deadline for having cards to the P.O. Box is Dec. 6. Learn more at RedCross.org/HolidayMail
Warm Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season
A
s the busy holiday season
is fast approaching, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to my Clients, Friends, Neighbors and Associates who have contributed to my success this year. From my family to yours, I hope your holiday is filled with warmth, laughter, joy and gratitude!
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