FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The Fort Eustis Regimental Memorial Chapel community hosted a dinner for families of deployed Service members Oct. 8. During the dinner, families received a free meal and an opportunity to speak about any issues they might have while their Service members are away.
While parents were attending a discussion group with U.S. Army Maj. Scott Daniel, Fort Eustis family life chaplain, members of the chapel took care of children, allowing spouses to attend the discussion group without distractions.
"We hold these dinners quarterly in order to accommodate new families and give veteran families a break from at-home stressors," said Daniel. "It also gives family members a chance to interact with one another and share their concerns, which solidifies the community and brings a lot of family members out of their shell."
Daniel hopes families of all deployed Service members, regardless of branch of service, will come partake in the chapel's dinners.
"Every Service member is a hero, and every family member misses their hero," said Daniel. "Our chapel community is eager to reach out to those families and bring them here for some emotional and spiritual healing."
For Shantyle Power, wife of deployed Sgt. Adam Power, 53rd Transportation Battalion Soldier, the event was a chance for her to embrace the community, especially since this is the first deployment she's experienced.
"It is stressful to take on the household," said Power during the discussion group. "It's hard enough to keep up with my kids, so this is a welcome break."
Daniel spoke about the dangers of bottling up emotions and suggested different ways for families to cope with a deployment, whether through the chapel, support agencies or each other.
Daniel also gave his personal account of a deployment, and expressed his desire for families to seek the help they need.
"I know when I deploy, my wife has a tendency to gather the kids around her, hunker down and stay inside for a few days," said Daniel to the group. "Every time, I remind her she isn't alone in this struggle. There is more than just a community here; [we're] a family."
For families who will currently have a deployed Service member, or will in the future, the next dinner is scheduled for Dec. 10 at the chapel.