Spouses of deployed servicemembers gather to celebrate Thanksgiving

Published Nov. 23, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Lottie Rasmussen
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Surviving without loved ones may be hard enough, but spending holidays such as Thanksgiving alone can make things a little more difficult.

To lift the burden together, spouses of deployed servicemembers gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving at the Schilling Community Center, Nov. 20.

"I do wish my husband could be here," said military spouse Heather Maris, who attended the dinner. "It's been a lot of years in a row that he has not been here with me." Mrs. Maris said although she still misses her husband, having support from her military family makes this time easier for her.

Deployed spouses dinners are held monthly on Kadena and are hosted by a different squadron each month. Tech. Sgt. Ray Brooks, spouse's dinner coordinator, says a lot of effort goes into helping the spouses feel at home.

"We know the spouse's families are away from them right now. We just want to make sure we have the Thanksgiving theme and enjoy that time, and make it feel like family for all the spouses," he said.

For those who spent this Thanksgiving without their spouse and expect an absence during Christmas as well, another deployed dinner will be held in December.