Focus Supporting Our Helo Community and Each Other
HOSC Holds Its Annual NHA Spouses Luncheon Article by Lara Bouvé
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ach year during the week of the NHA Symposium, helicopter spouses take advantage of the opportunity to have a luncheon to gather together to enjoy new and old friendships, share stories, and support the NHA Scholarship fund. This year’s luncheon was one of the most well-attended in recent history. The theme “Wings of Change” was chosen, with butterfly décor to symbolize change, transformation, and new beginnings. Organized by the Helicopter Officer and supporting their squadrons and each Spouses’ Club (HOSC), the event was held other for 61 years. Archived meeting at the Coronado Cays Yacht Club. Over 70 minutes reveal that back in 1949, there spouses were in attendance to enjoy lunch were only two helicopter squadrons – one and a presentation by Mrs. Cheri Bollman, on each coast. By 1952, this number had a motivational speaker and life coach. She expanded to four squadrons in San Diego has made appearances on multiple news along with the VS squadrons at Ream programs including 20/20, Oprah, and Good Field on what is today the outlying field Morning America. She is married to a 28 year at Imperial Beach. During this time, the retired SEAL veteran and is the mother of 11, REAM Officers’ Wives Club was born and she took the opportunity to talk to the including both Helo and VS squadrons. HOSC members about change, challenges, This group’s main objective was social. They planned Sadie Hawkins Dances, relationships, and adversity. The HOSC organization, like the spring luncheons, fashion shows, and San Diego Navy helicopter community as a luaus, and money raised was spent on whole, has enjoyed a long and rich heritage the next social event. The group name remained the on North Island Naval Air Station. Many same throughout the 1960’s. They began of you may not know that HOSC and its Rotor Review # 121 Summer ‘13 58Field Chiefs’ Club, meeting at the Ream predecessors have been meeting, socializing,
and they eventually changed their name to the Helicopter Officers’ Wives club (H.O.W.) when Ream Field was designated as NAS Imperial Beach. With that change came a new purpose for the club, and they began to work to help military families in need. To do this, they started projects including art auctions and craft sales which earned them their first $26.00. They made layettes and donated them to Balboa Hospital through Navy Relief. In 1975, the helicopter operations and communities were moved to Naval Air Station North Island, so H.O.W. moved their meetings to Bonita where they met at a nursery and in a meeting room of a Wells Fargo Bank. In the late 1970’s, the first husband of a helicopter pilot joined the group, and the name was changed to Helicopter Officer Spouses’ Club (HOSC). NHA was a new organization at this point, and Continue on page 59