Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey | The 163d Attack Wing Airmen enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal with their Wingmen and shared...... read more read more
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. - As the smell of turkeys fill the air, cranberries are set on the table and pumpkin pie is served, we often reflect on what were thankful for in our lives more. During this year’s annual Thanksgiving feast at the 163rd Attack Wing, several Airmen took part in sharing a meal and what they are most grateful for as the holiday approaches.
“This month is Thanksgiving and what I am really thankful for is God being in my life, for providing me with a beautiful family, a roof on top of my head and the lord providing me the essentials in life,” said Tech. Sgt. Jay Fontelera, a vehicle operator and dispatcher of the 163rd Logistics Readiness Squadron. “I am also thankful for being in this wing and for its contributions.”
Every year, the 163rd Force Support Squadron puts on a Thanksgiving meal for the wing to celebrate the holiday together at lunch time while at the unit training assembly in November. The Sustainment Services Flight has been serving Thanksgiving meals during the November drill since 2003.
“It has become a family tradition here at the 163rd wing because we are all family,” said Capt. Jennifer Covington, 163rd Attack Wing Sustainment Services officer in charge. “We serve as brothers and sisters in arms together. This allows us time to share special life moments together as we do not always see each other throughout the year unless we are deployed together or on orders serving in the state due to being traditional guardsmen.”
Sustainment Services are required to train and be prepared to cook in civil support emergencies as well as overseas deployments. The Force Support Squadron not only serves a Thanksgiving meal for the sake of morale for the Airmen but also to be able to train on feeding multiple troops at one time.
“This past July, we found ourselves in our own mini flood due to heavy rain in the area and we were able to clean up the damages,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jonathan Gaygay, of the 163rd Force Support Squadron. “The building required clean up more than we anticipated. This year we were thankful the meal could be catered to continue the tradition.”
The Airmen of the 163rd ATKW spent their lunch time together being able to chat about their families, civilian careers, military duties, hobbies, and other interests while being provided a Thanksgiving meal.
163rd Attack Wing Airmen share what they are thankful for:
“I am thankful for every day I wake up as not everyone gets this opportunity, and I think we should take advantage of life whenever we have the opportunity,” said Senior Airman Blas Garcia, of the 163rd Security Forces. “I would like to say happy Thanksgiving to all my brothers in arms and everyone overseas.”
“It’s Thanksgiving this month, so I would like to give thanks to my wife and my two beautiful little girls for supporting me in the military,” said Senior Airman Joseph Trujillo, of the 163rd Services Squadron. “I’m also very thankful for joining the Honor Guard and for being awarded Airman of the Year from them.”
“I am thankful for being able to be with my family, most importantly my older brother, younger brother, sister, and parents and other immediate family,” said Airman 1st Class Kyle Staple, of the 163rd Communications Squadron. “It is a rare time these days for families to all be together, so I am thankful and hopefully they will bring me lots of turkey.”
“I am thankful for my family, my job and my health,” said Senior Airman Joshua Johns, of the 163rd Security Forces Squadron. “Thankful for everyone deployed protecting us rig now. I would also like to say happy Veterans Day coming up this Wednesday.”
I’m very thankful for being able to spend Thanksgiving with my family who is normally traveling all over the states,” said Staff Sgt. Zakia Webster, of the Force Support Squadron. “Also, I am grateful for being able to be in Honor Guard to work in the community and serve those who are less fortunate. I am very grateful to be a part of that.”
“This is my first year without my parents at Thanksgiving as they have decided to retire and move, but I am thankful I will be spending the holidays with my little girls and husband at my sister’s house, said Tech. Sgt. Melissa Crow, of the 163rd Attack Wing Communications Squadron. “I would like to shout out to my parents, who I am thankful for. Gobble gobble.”
| Date Taken: | 11.25.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2015 12:56 |
| Story ID: | 182881 |
| Location: | RIVERSIDE, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 180 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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