“Bronco” family shares home, learns lessons in giving

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Erickson | Opening up their home to orphans from the Holy Family Home has been a life changing opportunity for one “Wolfhound” family. Host family attend welcoming ceremony with the children.  

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, UNITED STATES

07.31.2014

Story by Sgt. Brian Erickson 

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — Opening up their home to orphans from the Holy Family Home has been a life changing opportunity for one “Wolfhound” family.

“I have always thought this was a cool program, I couldn’t wait to be involved,” said 2nd Lt. Matt Farrar, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

The Farrar family was able to make Seiryu Kobayashi and Daiki Yamaguchi a part of their family for the first week of their visit to Hawaii.

Having been stationed with the Wolfhounds before the family made sure they were way ahead of the curve and got their names in early to be a part of this opportunity, according to 2nd Lt. Farrar.

The boys from Japan wasted no time before they became involved within the family.

“It was amazing how quickly they fit in, immediately the big ones started looking after the little ones in our house,” said Tina Farrar, 2nd Lt. Farrar’s spouse.

The family hasn’t missed a beat since they opened up their doors. Daiki and Seiryu have been a part of everything the family was doing from karate class to meeting the teachers for the Farrar’s oldest child.

“It’s really neat that these kids get to be a part of a family and really be able to take ownership of one another,” said 2nd Lt. Farrar.

Having four children of their own, they did wonder how well their children would be able to get along with their house guests from Japan.

“The other day at the water park, I sat back and watch the kids interact in line and you could not tell there was any type of language barrier at all,” said 2nd Lt. Farrar.

Not only have the children bonded with the two boys, they have also learned valuable lessons, according to their dad.

“This visit has opened my children’s minds about how awarding it is to help others who are less fortunate than themselves,” said 2nd Lt. Farrar.

The Farrars were sad to see it end, but know that every moment with these kids was a “blessing” to their family and hope they will get the opportunity to host children in the future.

“It has been an honor, these are great kids and they have taught our kids a lot,” said Farrar. “I can’t imagine not doing this again.”

Four orphans from the Holy Family Home Orphanage, Osaka, Japan, arrived on Oahu July 28, to spend the next two weeks with families from the 27th Infantry Regiment, “Wolfhounds.”

This year marks the 57th annual Holy Family Home Summer Visit, a tradition which has come to define both the 27th Infantry Regiment and our family at the Holy Family Home Orphanage in Japan. A confirmation of a 65-year perpetual relationship between the regiment and the orphanage. Two orphans were invited to visit the Wolfhounds in 1957 and began a tradition that continues today, said Yuko O’Reilly, known as the “mother of the Wolfhounds.”

The success of the Holy Family Home visit this year strengthens civil-military bonds on Oahu and encourages other units to reach out to civil partners to do the same. Four orphans from Holy Family Home Orphanage, Osaka, Japan, arrived on Oahu, July 29, to spend two weeks with families from the 27th Infantry Regiment, “Wolfhounds.” Four different families hosted the children: two families hosted two children each for one week and then the families swapped and the second two families hosted the children for a week.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2014
• Date Posted: 08.05.2014 23:11
• Story ID: 138400
• Location: SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US