Valley celebrates Military Appreciation Day

May 21, 2006

By DAWN DE BUSK

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Heather Asselin wakes up to an empty bed.

Two weeks ago, her husband, James, was deployed to Afghanistan. Asselin and her two young sons, aged 4 and 8, still are adjusting to his absence.

Luckily, it was Saturday, and she knew a Military Appreciation Day community picnic would be going on at the Alcantra National Guard Armory, just down the road from her home.

&#8220It's nice when the community has stuff like this, especially for the boys. It takes their minds off missing their dad. They are really close to him,” said Asselin, who served in the Air Force for four years prior to her boys being born. &#8220In the military, often, you don't have family or friends nearby because you're moving so frequently, so you rely on community for support. It's rough when a spouse or a parent leaves. With the frequent deployments going on, it's important that the family has some sense of community.”

The Valley-wide event marked the 56th year of Armed Forces Day, a calendar date proclaimed by then-Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson to combine Marine, Army, Air Force and Navy days into one celebration, according to Burt Hall, who helped organize the event and who emceed the ceremony.

At that point in history, all the armed forces fell under one branch - the U.S. Department of Defense, Hall said.

Armed Forces Day was a time to education civilians about the military, he said.

Saturday's get-together and barbecue included a blue star ceremony to honor families whose members were deployed or recently joined the military.

Wasilla resident Malinda Eldridge has less than a month to spend with her oldest son, Todd, before he packs his bags for boot camp in Fort Leonard Wood, Miss., on June 15.

His recruiting officer told him to show up to Saturday's picnic.

Eldridge was thrilled when she found out she'd be the recipient of a blue star flag. Around World War I, the military tradition started of presenting moms with flags to hang in their home's window, signifying by the number of stars the number of children in the service.

She said she absolutely supported her son's decision to go into the military, adding that her dad was an army man.

&#8220He's going into construction and masonry to help rebuild Gulfport, Miss., after what they suffered during Hurricane Katrina,” Eldridge said. &#8220That'll be a good thing.”

Jeanne Hawthorn, a radio maintenance worker with the Air Force for 18 years who also rears three children between 2 and 8 years old, doesn't recall ever celebrating Armed Forces Day before.

She liked the concept of a picnic that wasn't just privy to military personnel, but included residents from all walks of life.

&#8220The community support is important, because it's harder to serve if you're not appreciated,” she said. &#8220I haven't been deployed. When people are deployed and come back home, they should not get criticized for doing their job.”

Hawthorne veered off to chase her 2-year-old, who was more interested in the teens tossing footballs in the parking lot than the 25-foot tall blow-up slide. A very tame great Dane caught the toddler's attention while other children were engrossed in petting puppies brought by musher Martin Buser as part of the children's activities.

Asseline watched her friend zip through the crowd.

&#8220I'm impressed that she's been in the military for 18 years, especially as a female with children,” Asselin said. &#8220My husband and I joined when we were young, and we got to travel and do exciting things. Then you have a family and would rather stay at home with you kids, but you have this sense of patriotism and duty built into you,”

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252 or dawn.debusk@frontiersman.com.