Cookies for our heroes

Children at the Child Development Center decorated cookies for wounded warriors at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Nov. 30, 2012. The CDC directors and Parental Advisory Board made the decision to do this with the classrooms to get into the holiday spirit and teach the children about giving to others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux)

Cookies for our heroes

Laken Stunkel, daughter of Airman 1st Class Whitney Stunkel, puts icing on her cookie at the Child Development Center during a cookie decorating project for wounded warriors at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Nov. 30, 2012. The CDC directors and Parental Advisory Board made the decision to do this with the classrooms to get into the holiday spirit and teach the children about giving to others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux)

Cookies for our heroes

Anthony Norat, son of Sgt. Abby Norat, 5th Quarter Master, licks his fingers after decorating his cookie at the Child Development Center during a cookie decorating project for wounded warriors at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Nov. 30, 2012. The CDC directors and Parental Advisory Board made the decision to do this with the classrooms to get into the holiday spirit and teach the children about giving to others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux)

Cookies for our heroes

Decorated cookies from the children at the Child Development center sit on the counter waiting to be taken to wounded warriors at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Nov. 30, 2012. The CDC directors and Parental Advisory Board made the decision to do this with the classrooms to get into the holiday spirit and teach the children about giving to others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux)

Cookies for our heroes

Published Dec. 3, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The sound of the teachers rallying a group of energetic toddlers around two tables was barely heard over the giggles and tiny chatter in Room 12 at the Child Development Center.

As the children gathered around, they were each handed a cookie and a spoon. Then they were given some frosting and sprinkles to decorate their cookie.

Children at the CDC here made and decorated cookies Nov. 30 for wounded warriors staying at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility.

The CDC directors and Parental Advisory Board made the decision to do this with the classrooms to get into the holiday spirit.

"The kids had a great time, and really liked the idea of making the cookies for the wounded warriors," said Tiana McEvoy, Ramstein CDC child youth program assistant.

Parents whose children attend the CDC helped by bringing the supplies needed to make and decorate the cookies like sprinkles and frosting.

"The kitchen staff here really helped us out a lot," said McEvoy. "They made sure all the correct ingredients were measured out and placed in each room for the kids to mix together and shape the cookies."

The older children each made a cookie and decorated it while most the cookies in the 2-year-old class didn't make it out alive.

"I made cookies for sick Soldiers," said 2-year-old Laken Stunkel, daughter of Airman 1st Class Whitney Stunkel 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs. "They are our heroes."

Not only was it a fun time for the children, it was also an opportunity for them to learn about doing things for others.

"(Military members) have given their service to us and our country," said McEvoy. "Having the children make cookies for them teaches the kids kindness and service because (military members) have already given back to us."

Getting in the holiday spirit of giving, the children at the CDC explained why making the cookies was important.

"The cookies we made are yummy," said Stunkel. "The heroes will go from hurt to happy. I hope they love our cookies."