Band delivers 'Valentine' for deployed troops

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LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --   The U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, based at Langley Air Force Base, Va., is offering some deployed airmen in the region a chance to participate in its new Valentine Program.

The year-round program allows deployed troops to send a free compact disc of love songs to that special someone back home.

"What an awesome thing for them to do," said Chief Master Sgt. James LeVack, Central Command Air Forces-Forward command chief.

"All you have to do is fill out a card and they send a complimentary CD to the person you designate."

The program, which began Feb. 2, is normally offered only to servicemembers at Air Combat Command installations who are about to deploy.

However, band representatives who are currently visited the region to discuss an initiative to deploy bandsmen, decided to let airmen at one forward location test the new program.

"It is an especially nice gesture with Valentine's Day coming up," Chief LeVack said. "I got a CD for my wife."

But servicemembers don't need a special occasion to send a "Valentine," the title of the CD, to a loved one.

The CD is designed so that deployed airmen can let loved ones know they haven't been forgotten, no matter what time of year.

"We developed this program to try and support Air Force families," said Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Hedrick, the band manager. "We spent a great deal of time selecting the music for this CD, so it would be good for a spouse, significant other, parents or other family members."

Generally, deploying servicemembers who want to participate in the program fill out a pre-addressed postcard prior to the deployment and drop it in the mail.

Once the card is mailed, it goes straight to the band members, who send out a CD about three weeks after receiving the request.

"We've put together many CDs, but this is the one I am most proud of," Chief Hedrick said.

Airmen who have questions about the Valentine Program should contact his or her first sergeant for forms and details.