As the holiday season unfolds in December, countless organizations and individuals dedicate their efforts to uplift military personnel and their families who face the heartache of separation from loved ones.
These separations often stem from ongoing deployments and the unique challenges tied to military life.
Compounding this is the struggle many families experience with rising living expenses, which can hinder their ability to provide festive meals or gifts for their children.
Gathering Around the Table
This holiday season, an impressive amount of food has been prepared for troops across the globe.
Approximately 107,948 pounds of beef, 54,261 pounds of ham, and 11,648 containers of eggnog have found their way into dining facilities, naval vessels, and remote locations thanks to meticulous planning by the Defense Logistics Agency’s Troop Support command.
Preparations begin as early as spring, involving collaboration with commands and vendors to meet the orders.
Notable provisions include:
- 130,929 pounds of turkey
- 5,521 cans of sweet potatoes
- 42,934 assorted pies and cakes
Global Festivities
Military families worldwide are partaking in cheerful gatherings filled with fun and festivities.
For example, at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, the beloved mascot, Lance Cpl.
Bruno, brought smiles to families as he entertained alongside the Grinch at a delightful holiday event complete with crafts, music, and more.
Over in Minnesota, on December 13, Santa made a surprise visit to a holiday party for families of the 148th Fighter Wing, stationed next to an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
In Italy, troops and their families were treated to a performance by actor and musician Charles Esten as part of the USO holiday tour at Naval Support Activity Naples, with over 250 USO locations joining in to host festive activities for military members and their loved ones.
Charitable efforts also play a vital role during this time.
Nonprofit organization Operation Homefront runs an annual toy drive, targeting junior and mid-grade enlisted personnel (E-1 to E-6) by providing toys and holiday meal kits to families in need, with deliveries made by dedicated volunteers from coast to coast.
Another initiative, Soldiers’ Angels’ Adopt-A-Family program, connects generous donors with 1,893 military and veteran families, including over 5,200 children, ensuring they receive gifts and grocery gift cards.
However, as of Monday, there are still 343 families—with 1,106 children—waiting for support.
Additionally, the Army Emergency Relief program has extended $100 gift cards for commissary shopping to 900 Army families at various installations both in the U.S. and abroad, providing them with much-needed assistance as the holidays approach.
Community Contributions
The Gary Sinise Foundation hosted a Snowball Express Healing Retreat at Walt Disney World Resort from December 7-11.
This event welcomed over 700 families of the fallen and drew participants from around 90 cities, both in the country and overseas.
Furthermore, the Armed Services YMCA teams up with Jack Daniel’s Distillery on Operation Ride Home, helping junior enlisted members and their families return home for the holidays.
Since its launch in 2011, this initiative has positively impacted over 14,000 individuals.
Ensuring that single service members are included in the season’s festivities, communities also organize special support activities.
At Travis Air Force Base in California, for example, the spouses’ club recently coordinated a Holiday Dorm Drop, creating and delivering over 850 gift jars for airmen living in the dorms.
Thanks to Soldiers’ Angels, more than 41,000 stockings brimming with goodies have been dispatched to deployed service members, veterans in hospitals, and members of the National Guard and Reserve across the nation.
Military personnel and their families often extend their support back into the wider community through initiatives such as the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and various charity events.
Some of these efforts are steeped in tradition.
For instance, on December 13, senior leaders from Eighth Army visited the Namsan-won Orphanage in Seoul, South Korea, delivering Christmas gifts and upholding a tradition of support that dates back to the Korean War, when soldiers established the orphanage to care for the children of fallen soldiers and police.
This enduring relationship showcases Eighth Army’s ongoing commitment to the well-being of these children.
Source: Militarytimes