Bright Holidays for Barksdale Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel J O'Brien
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale Air Force Base, La --  Some of Barksdale's brightest had a very merry Christmas this year thanks to the kindness of team Barksdale members and local businesses. More than 20 Airmen received free round-trip airfare courtesy of the Operation Bright Holidays program.

Operation Bright Holidays is an annual program that collects money from donors and local businesses to help Airmen who can't afford to go home. This year the program raised more than $12,000.

"Flights were really expensive this year, so it was really nice when we went out with our letters and the checks just started coming in," said 2nd Lt. Laura Fitzsimmons, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, one of the program coordinators.

The recipients ranged from Airmen who worked hard and proved themselves deserving, to ones who have experienced family tragedies and didn't think they'd be able to make it home for the holidays.

One Airman was stationed in Germany before coming to Barksdale and had not been home in more than seven years. The program even partially funded a trip for an Airman from Africa.

The Bright Holidays program is geared toward single, younger Airmen, but there are certain exceptions.

"We had one Airman who is married, but she's not on-station with her husband," said Fitzsimmons. "We were able to send him home to see his wife."

2nd Lt. Steven Graves took up the lead soliciting and collecting donations. He also arranged and purchased most of the flights.

The military affairs council was the biggest benefactor to the program, which also received large donations from local casinos and other businesses.

The recipients certainly recognize the generosity of what they are being given. Airman 1st Class Whitley Westt, 2nd Bomb Wing, visited her family in Florida for the first time since June.

"I'm just so grateful I got to go home and spend time with my family," said Westt. "My supervisor felt I had worked really hard and put the request in on my behalf."

For Senior Airman Carla Summers, 2nd Force Support Squadron, the benefits of the gift stretch beyond just being able to get home.

"It's a little stress relief because I would have had to spend that money to get home," Said Summers. "Now I can spend it on gifts for my family."

Summers comes from a military family that is spread out across the country, making it hard for her to see everyone. Summers will spend her break with her mother in Florida, where she hasn't been in two years.

"I was shocked to be chosen," said Summers. "It's kind of overwhelming in a good way."

Summers' supervisor felt she was deserving because of her inspection record over the past year.

While Airmen show their appreciation for the gift, the gift simultaneously shows the Air Force's thanks to them.

"It really lets them know that if they work hard, good things will happen," said Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons said for her, the joy of giving was the most rewarding part of the program.

"It's great for me to see how some of these Airmen are so young but have already gone so far above and beyond," she said. "It keeps me humble and gives me a lot of pride for our Air Force."

Fitzsimmons feels the Barksdale mission will be better because of Operation Bright Holidays.

"Some people have really stressful situations and they don't think they can afford to get out of here," she said. "We get to say it's okay, we got your back. You're going home. Now they can relax and come back concentrated on their work."

After the Airmen have returned from their time off they will be treated to a luncheon where they can meet all of the donors, as well as Fitzsimmons who met very few of the recipients in person.

"A lot of it was done over the phone," said Fitzsimmons. "But I still felt like Santa Claus!"