Photo By Sgt. Cassandra Monroe | Hollis Wilder, owner of Sweet! by Holly cupcake stores and three-time champion of Food...... read more read more
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NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The daily life of an average trooper during a deployment may get tedious and can be monotonous at times.
The day-to-day schedules may often become repetitive, but is part of their job supporting Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay.
Cupcake guru Hollis Wilder recognizes the amount of effort those troopers put into their work, and wanted to show her appreciation for Service members by sharing her sweet treats. After two customers, who have worked at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, stopped by her shop in Jacksonville, Fla., the conversation of Wilder visiting the troops began.
“Here you all are, sacrificing an extraordinary amount to be here so that other people can go after their dreams and live freely and not give a second thought about their safety,” said Wilder, the Sweet! by Holly store owner and three-time champion of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.”
“I was humbled by their service and grateful,” she said.
Wilder toured the sprawling hills of Guantanamo Bay, making several stops throughout the base to visit with troopers including the Coast Guard marina and the galleys. She made an appearance at the Mongolian-cuisine themed night at the Bayview restaurant on base, handing out her sought-after cupcakes to troopers as well as spouses and children.
Troopers tasted hit flavors such as ‘PBJ,’ a peanut butter cake base with grape jelly topped with peanut butter frosting; 's‘mores,’ a graham cracker-crusted chocolate cake based cupcake filled with marshmallow filling and topped with vanilla frosting; and classic favorites like ‘red velvet.’
For some troopers, having Wilder visit the base served as a morale booster.
“[The guests are] lively spirits, they’re not in the day-to-day mix down here and it brightens everyone’s day a little bit to have such a personality to come down,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Demore, a boatswains mate with the 301st Port Security Unit, Maritime Security Detachment.
Demore, who said he thoroughly enjoyed a PBJ cupcake himself, also said the cupcakes reminded him of home and is a reminder of why he strives to work so hard.
“It’s great, it makes me feel like I’m in touch with the same things that my loved ones back at home are seeing,” said Demore. “It’s a reminder that what we’re working for here is all worthwhile. People can enjoy delicious cupcakes because we’re doing our job down here.”
Wilder finished her tour of Guantanamo Bay with a cupcake decorating contest that was fashioned after the show “Cupcake Wars,” complete with a 30-minute time limit. After visiting Guantanamo Bay and putting faces to the troopers on base, Wilder said she thinks her cupcakes bring a taste of home to them and gives them a rush a memories.
“The cupcake levels the playing field,” she said. “The cupcake is a mighty force in small package. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the front lines, or working in corporate America, or you’re a mother, the cupcake levels the playing field because it’s a tiny package that makes them feel like they’re coming home. My job is to be of service through food, and you get to people’s hearts through their stomachs.”
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2013 13:46 |
| Story ID: | 113335 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 225 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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