VOGELWEH MILITARY COMPLEX, Germany -- Kaiserslautern Military Community leaders came out to support military service members and their families during the 18th annual Thanks for Thanksgiving event at Vogelweh Air Base, Germany, Nov. 19, 2016.
Airmen and Soldiers banded together to support junior enlisted service members by providing them with all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal and to thank them for their service and sacrifices.
“This is a way for the senior enlisted, officers, commanders, chiefs, and first sergeants to give back to the junior enlisted,” said Senior Master Sgt. Brady Holcomb, 721st Aerial Port Squadron first sergeant.
Brig. Gen. Richard G. Moore, Jr., 86th Airlift Wing commander, Chief Master Sergeant Aaron D. Bennett, 86th AW command chief, and Command Sergeant Major Edward James Williams III, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz command sergeant major, were among leadership in attendance.
Students from surrounding KMC elementary schools decorated brown bags with feathers and drawings of turkeys in which Thanks for Thanksgiving participants filled with food and supplies for a family meal. Each package included a 10-12 lb. frozen turkey, a roasting pan, stuffing mix, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, vegetables, yams, dinner rolls, a frozen pie, and a $25 Visa gift card.
“For the Air Force side alone, we’re supporting more than 900 family members,” Holcomb said.
This year is the first time in 17 years the Army and the Air Force have collaborated for Thanks for Thanksgiving.
“We had Army and Air Force service members working together for a good cause, getting involved and doing it with good spirits,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Conrad Walters, Dental Command-Europe senior enlisted advisor.
More than 660 joint families were supported during this year’s Thanks for Thanksgiving event.
“For the families, it doesn’t matter what uniform we are wearing,” Holcomb said. “We are out here taking care of each other.”
Additional gifts such as family friendly DVDs, toys, keychains, and a complimentary edition of the Stars and Stripes newspaper were added in every package.
Volunteers received warm food and beverages in the morning for their efforts, as well as hotdogs and refreshments later in the day.
As the holiday season commences, military service members can relax a little knowing that no matter what their situation, their community is ready to provide assistance.