Air Force families celebrate the holiday time with parade and tree lighting

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lauren-Taylor Levin
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The 366th Force Support Squadron held a holiday parade and tree lighting here on Dec. 8, 2017.

During the parade, several squadrons threw candy and waved at children throughout base housing, the youth center, child development center, chapel and the base exchange.

“I was so happy to Santa,” said a child of a deployed member. “He was big, tall and he threw candy and toys at me.”

Once the parade finished, Christmas carols were sung and people gathered around the base Christmas tree prior to it being lit.

“Deployments are tough and support from your base can make all the difference,” said Katie Powers, spouse of Master Sgt. Daniel Powers 366th Operations Group first sergeant. “Events like Gunfighter Glow provide a time for us to come together and talk to other families who understand what you are going through.

To complete the night, family members of deployed Airmen from the 366th Fighter Wing participated in the annual Gunfighter Glow event.

Gunfighter Glow was created to remember Airmen who are currently deployed to various locations. Each family, spouse or friend is given one glow stick to represent their loved one and is placed in various bags at Holt Park.

“It’s special to me to know that I have people here that I can call on when I need help me when my spouse is gone,” said a spouse of a deployed member.