LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Cold air nips at the fingertips of Joint Base Langley-Eustis. With the changing leaves comes a change of pace for many Service members.
Excitement abounds this time of year.
Organizations like the Langley Air Force Base, Va., 633rd Force Support Squadron and the Fort Eustis, Va., 733rd Force Support Division plan to give Service members the experience of the season even with their sometimes strained schedules.
From Thanksgiving to New Year's, hot chocolate fills many a special thermos, and it seems everybody hums their favorite tune. But near JBLE, the sound of holiday music accompanies a chorus of F-22 Raptors and their deafening takeoff.
The military dedicates 100 percent of its time to the defense of the nation, and the holidays are no exception. That means some Service members will be spending the holidays at the home station instead of the homestead.
But those Service members are not forgotten.
"The need to provide hometown and family feels is never more important than during the holidays," said John Volkers, 733rd FSD director. "With Service members and families being far from home and friends, force support programs are vital."
The 733rd FSD scheduled events for the season, such as a parent's night out, hunter's safety course, a turkey shoot and more. To get started on registration for an event, or for more questions, visit
http://eustismwr.com/.
Langley doesn't plan to back off during the holidays either. The 633rd FSS community center plans to provide a comedy night, a Thanksgiving meal, a piano concert and more in the month of November, but the activities don't end there. Youth services, the Langley club and other units within the 633rd FSS have events planned for the holidays. For more information, go to
http://langley.jbleforcesupport.com/index.html.
"Because of the rigorous military mission, a significant number of our military can't be with the ones they love this year," said James Murrell, 633rd FSS community center director. "Force support activities show Service members their sacrifice doesn't go unnoticed."
Luckily for members of JBLE, the area around Fort Eustis and Langley is rich with opportunities to bundle up and go on an adventure. Hampton Roads and the greater Williamsburg area have numerous events scheduled for the holiday season. Plan your next holiday outing by checking out the links provided:
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http://visitwilliamsburg.com/williamsburg-attractions/index.aspx (Includes Jamestown)
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http://www.newport-news.org/things-to-do/events.php
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http://www.visitnorfolktoday.com/calendar/events/
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http://www.visithampton.com/events/2012/11/
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http://www.ci.poquoson.va.us/parks_recreation/events
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http://visityorktown.org/
The surrounding communities offer events ranging from quiet park adventures to extravagant evenings full of art and music.
For those concerned with the quality of these events, Volkers shared some encouragement.
"Force support personnel are prepared and willing to share the spirit of the season," said Volkers. "Remember, you are not alone; we are here to serve you and to be your home away from home."
With the holiday season fast approaching, missing home is natural for those who put service before self. However, with just a little bit of planning, and maybe a few cups of warm apple cider, holiday enjoyment is not out of reach for anyone.