Holiday Dorm Dinner

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. McCall Sears
  • 436th Medical Support Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  With the smells of home cooked holiday food and the sounds of holiday music, laughter and good conversation, Team Dover Airmen residing in the dorms enjoyed a holiday dinner on their home turf Dec. 17, 2015.

The holiday meal was put together by the base Company Grade Officer's Council (CGOC) with help from both the Top III and Chief's Group.

"We really reached out and used all of our available resources," said 1st Lt. Indira Infante, 436th Medical Support Squadron Resource Management Flight commander and CGOC liaison officer. "This dinner was really all about coming together with the other organizations on base in order to put on something really special for our Airmen who work so hard and might not get a chance to be with family this holiday season."

More than 35 volunteers helped to cook, prepare, decorate and serve at the holiday dinner. Over 180 Airmen were able to eat a home cooked holiday meal while enjoying the decorations and festive music. There was a display of gingerbread houses that Airmen were able to judge and vote for.

"We wanted to impart the holiday spirit upon everyone who showed up by creating a holiday wonderland with the food as its focal point," said 2nd Lt. Leah Bratt, 436th MDSS and CGOC social officer. 

"It was really important for us to make sure those folks who were working long hours were able to get food even if they couldn't make it to us," said 2nd Lt. McCall Sears, Community Service Officer for the CGOC. "The dinner started early enough to help capture those Airmen who were on swing shift and we sent runners to the aerial port, security forces, isochronal dock and firehouse with huge boxes of food to make sure all of our 24-hour folks got a chance to eat a home cooked meal."

Thanks to the contributions of Senior NCOs and CGOs across the base, Airmen were able to pile their plates high, come back for seconds and even take plates back to their room.

With thousands of Airmen serving around the world, and especially with those who will not get a chance to go home this holiday season, the theme of the Air Force family is important.