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Homefront Heroes recognizes military families

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn (Viss) Herrick
  • Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  In order to celebrate "America's youngest heroes," the JBPHH Military and Family Support Services and Pacific Air Forces Civilian Advisory Council hosted a special Homefront Heroes event here April 15.

Held quarterly, this is an opportunity to give children of deployed service members extra recognition for their sacrifices. This month's event was especially significant because April is the Month of the Military Child.

"We attend to recognize the kids who are there without one or both parents because they're deployed, and give them recognition for the fact that they now have to pick up more responsibility at home; do things without being told all the time; be involved with their family; and, most of all, to let them know we appreciate the sacrifices they make on behalf of their parents," said Heidi Wild, the AFCAC secretary, who was also previously the chair of the organization.

This month, more than 30 children and their families were signed up to attend, and Ms. Wild said she hopes to see it become even more of a joint-service event in the future.

"It's a big team effort," said Jessica LaGassey-Simpson, the MFSS community readiness specialist. "This program is a perfect way for our service members to showcase the support they receive from their families which allows them to continue their mission."

Since Hickam Air Force joint-based with Pearl Harbor in October 2010, the AFCAC has opened its arms to sponsor what is now a joint-service event in conjunction with the MFSS, previously known as Warfighter and Family Services.

"We appreciate the necessity of having a joint base and to recognizing all military families and their children," Ms. Wild said. AFCAC has sponsored the event for the past two years, donating money toward the refreshments and attending to personally give small certificates and McDonald's gift certificates and thank you notes to the children.

"I think being involved with Homefront Heroes, in particular, helps our organization have that direct contact with the families," she said. "We tend to be an executive-level advisory group; yet, we recognize it's really the men and women and their families who are so important to making this work."

AFCAC acts as business community coordination with the Pacific Air Forces Commander, Gen. Gary North. Their purpose is to be an independent civilian source of council, act as a catalyst for Air Force support for Air Force activities, help act as a channel to help communicate key Air Force messages to Hawaii's civilian opinion leaders and public officials, according to Ms. Wild.

"I think by being civilians, it lets them know that what is going on is known outside of just the (military) family," Ms. Wild said. "We bring a little different element to the table. It's our way of saying 'Yes, we in the business community recognize it takes the entire family to help protect our country.' It gives them a different sense of pride to know there are other people coming, being involved as well."

Although Ms. Wild is not from a family legacy of military service, she said attending the event and handing out these awards to military children gives her a whole different appreciation just for what military life is all about, and how much military families sacrifice to do the job that needs to get done.

"It gives me so much respect for the families and especially the young men and women in the military to go out and put their life on the line for our country," she said.