OBH sends 75 Airmen home for holidays

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Curt Beach
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  It's the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, and a family is about to spend yet another holiday without their son, an Airman on the other side of the world. Suddenly, they hear a knock on the door. The Airman who has been away for more than two years has made a surprise return.

Senior Airman Ianerwin Leyco, 20th Bomb Squadron commander support staff, will be able to see his family in Saipan, Mariana Islands, this year, courtesy of Operation Bright Holiday.

Operation Bright Holiday is an annual program that raises funds for first term Airmen's travel to spend the holidays with their families. This year the program has received more than $35,000 donations, which it is using to send home 75 Airmen, more than any previous year.

Leyco has not been home to Saipan, Mariana Islands, for the holidays in two years.

"It's not every day that someone comes up to you and says you've been given a plane ticket to go home," said Leyco. "For me, a plane ticket home would usually cost about $2,500. I'm very excited."

Money for OBH is raised throughout the year through various fundraising events and donations from the Military Affairs Council and businesses and organizations in the local community around the base.

"These Airmen have worked very hard throughout the year," said 2nd Lt. Chris Sullivan, OBH chair. "It warms my heart to know an Airman, whose family lives somewhere across the globe and hasn't seen him in years, gets the opportunity to go home because of the contributions made by members of the community and Team Barksdale to help support this cause."

OBH has a big impact on Airmen's attitudes.

"This program helps raise morale tremendously," said Airman 1st Class Amber Poe, 2nd Dental Squadron dental assistant, who has been funded to see her family in Kansas. "I know people in other branches of services who only get a one-day pass for a holiday."

Going home to see family in person helps Airmen to clear their minds and recharge.

"Skype and phone calls aren't the same as being face-to-face," said Leyco. "For me, it's a 15-hour time difference between here and home. I either have to wake up really early or stay up late just to contact them."

Poe emphasized how important family is, especially this time of year.

"Family is everything to me," said Poe, who was very grateful to have been funded by the program and hopes she can pay it forward to future Airmen. "I call them every other night. I've spent almost every holiday with them."
The Airmen who have been selected for the program give their thanks.

"I really want to say thank you to everybody who has donated to this cause," said Airman 1st Class Alyssa Boose, 2nd Medical Group customer service, who has been funded to be with her family in New Jersey for the holiday. "This is inspiring. My friends are at some bases where they don't have this type of program offered. This inspires me to talk to people I know at other bases to try to set something like this up."

For more information on how to nominate a deserving Airman or to contribute to the event contact the Company Grade Officers Council at Barksdale.CGOC@us.af.mil.