When have you had to get creative in celebrating holidays because of deployments?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:20:36 -0400

July is upon us and I know that somewhere, some Servicemember is redeploying to a family ready to celebrate Christmas. Thousands of families have had to get creative when celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays such as Christmas. What creative ways did you find to celebrate special days because of deployments?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 28 at 2015 12:29 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:29:39 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver Celebrating alone was challenging. I tried to think of things I could purchase and write notes to ether post or bring back with me. Meals which used to be shared with family were the toughest to eat alone - even though surrounded by people..

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 28 at 2015 1:18 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 13:18:30 -0400

My commo section became my family while deployed and I enjoyed having them around the table or decorating the Christmas tree. Here we are enjoying Thanksgiving together at Camp Victory in 2005. We decorated the commo tent with stockings for Christmas that same year

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 28 at 2015 1:31 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 13:31:57 -0400

Well, Yes, not me but my family (their ideas) ... CH (MAJ) William Beaver Anytime I missed Christmas (or birthdays), we celebrated Christmas (birthdays) when I got home as a family... But, for Christmas in particular, I think it was because they wanted to take the tree down and put everything away... No one ever wants to help with that.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 28 at 2015 4:07 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 16:07:05 -0400

I remember gift wrapping AT-4's using Stars & Stripes and putting them under the Charlie Brown tree we had in 2003.