Homefront Heroes honors children, spouses

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Larissa Greatwood
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Deployments can be stressful for military members. Being away from family, not knowing when they'll be home and fighting in combat zones are just a few stressors. While away, spouses and family members take care of the daily tasks and chores to ensure military members don't have to worry about home-life.

On Feb. 19, the 86th Logistics Readiness Group hosted a Homefront Heroes ceremony, which honored the accomplishments, dedication and sacrifices made by spouses and family members while Airmen were deployed.

During the ceremony, children and spouses were given an award and certificate as a token of appreciation and devotion to their military family member.

Elizabeth Anderson, 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron key spouse, said it's important to not only show military members how important their service is to our country, but the families' as well.

"Speaking as someone whose spouse has deployed and having a child, my husband has been gone half of our son's life," Anderson said. "I think it's important those kids get the recognition because they often go unnoticed. They really are the silent heroes. When kids are old enough to understand what's happening, they often see their parent recognized for their service, so it's a big deal when they themselves receive an award; their faces just light up."

Though some bases may have adapted the idea of Homefront Heroes, the first ceremony held at Ramstein was a variation on a Homefront Heroes ceremony held at Yokota Air Base, Japan.  

"My first and only interaction with [Homefront Heroes] was in 2011 at Yokota Air Base, [Japan]," said Lt. Col. Christopher Hall, 86th VRS commander. "After I returned from my deployment to Afghanistan, the base had a Homefront Heroes ceremony and offered all of us who had returned from deployment to put a medal on our kids and [show our appreciation].

"My unit here had a big group of returning 'deployers,' and it reminded me of the ceremony," he continued. "I brought the idea up, and was told no one at Ramstein does this. Initially, we were going to pull it together, but I talked to (Col. Lawrence Hicks, 86th Logistics Readiness Group commander) and realized other units under the [86th LRG] had a lot of [returnees] as well, so we planned it and made it a group event."

Being the first event of its kind at Ramstein, Master Sgt. Jerry Pierson, 86th VRS first sergeant, hopes more units on Ramstein follow in their footsteps to give recognition where it is due.

"I foresee the event continuing, at least within the 86th LRG," said Pierson. "Both of our commanders seemed to really enjoy how it turned out. I'm hoping other units pick it up-- it would be amazing to see it become a base-wide event."

Though deployments can put a strain on all parties involved, the 86th LRG is showing their appreciation through the Homefront Heroes event. Events like this allow children and spouses to be recognized for the hard work and perseverance they contributed to enable mission success.