Posted on 11/02/2005 6:00:38 PM PST by SandRat
11/2/2005 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Airmen here gave up their free time help their neighbors during Make a Difference Day Oct. 22 and 28.
Residents of Bob Hope and Theresa villages and Eglins Thrift Shop benefited from these Airmens labors.
The annual event is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. In 2004, three million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns.
Staff Sgt. Jeff Henson, 68th Electronic Warfare Squadrons Intelligence Directorate, said Make A Difference Day is one of the few times he gets to help retirees or their spouses.
Any time I can help someone who served, or their family, I try, Sergeant Henson said. They made a lot of sacrifices; they gave everything to help our country.
His co-worker, Staff Sgt. Chris Ammerman, agreed.
It is our responsibility to try to give something back to those who gave so much for us, Sergeant Ammerman said.
Event coordinator Kitty Randall said this years events were over two weekends because of Halloween and community events that conflicted with the national date of the last Saturday in October.
The goal is to find worthwhile projects that benefit the community on and off base. The volunteers moved furniture, hung curtains and painted apartment numbers of curbs.
Ive been trying to get to this for eight months, said Theresa Village maintenance director Jim Savage, of the curb-painting event. Theyve been a great help and its greatly appreciated.
Senior Airman Paul Waldrep, a firefighter with the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, arrived at Bob Hope Village after his shift at the fire station. He didnt mind missing a few hours of sleep because he knows first-hand how difficult it is for residents to get small tasks done.
I have a grandmother in a nursing home, Airman Waldrep said. Things need to be done here; it may not be my grandma, but theyre someones grandmother.
BTTT
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.