Hearts Apart, tree lighting brings families together

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shawn Nickel
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Holiday Hearts Apart Dinner and base tree lighting ceremony was held at the Recce Point Club Dec. 6.

The 9th Civil Engineer and 9th Force Support squadrons together with Beale's first sergeants, Blue Star Moms, and volunteers from the base hosted the tree lighting for the base populace and the Hearts Apart Dinner for spouses and families of deployed Airmen.

"This was a wonderful event to support our most important resources; Airmen and their families," said Maj. Centron Felder, 9th FSS commander. "A lot of base agencies came together to make this possible. It's a great opportunity to come together as one big Air Force family."

The purpose of the dinner was for spouses to get together for a night of food, fun, festivities and prizes.

Santa Claus arrived on a fire engine and Airman & Family Readiness Center representatives were on hand to explain available programs for attendees. Child Development Center and Youth Center volunteers provided a room with activities and toys for children to enjoy.

The Air Force Band of the Golden West played indoors for the Hearts Apart event while the volunteer band Dingus Moxie and the Flakes played near the base Christmas tree outdoors.

"We just wanted to play for our base, but didn't know there was going to be a group of spouses," said Tech. Sgt. Ken Nelson, 9th Munitions Squadron NCO in charge of support. "Being that there were so many families of deployed Airmen made this a really special event."

Leadership from several squadrons attended to answer questions while Beale's first sergeants served soup and chili.

"Getting together with other spouses whose families are separated like ours for the holidays is important," said Cheryle Allen, whose husband is deployed from the 9th Maintenance Squadron. "My kids say the cookies and Santa are the best part of this, but I would say the people who care are the key to this occasion."

The next dinner is slated for the beginning of February and will have a Valentine's Day theme. For more information, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 634-2863.