Photo By Staff Sgt. Caitlin Conner | Staff Sgt. Ernest Hayes, a cyber surety craftsman from the 118th Communication...... read more read more
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The 118th Communications Squadron joined together to help a family in need Dec. 3, 2017 at Berry Field Air National Guard Base. A tragic house fire devastated the Scales family in August 2017.
The fire started in the middle of the night in one of the bedrooms. Fortunately two of the three daughters were not home and the remaining three family members were unable to escape from the burning home.
Hayes nominated the Scales family for this special gift after coming home from work and seeing his neighbors’ (the Scales) house burnt down. Hayes has known Gary Scales (father) for over 20 years and was over joyed to know Gary and his family would be receiving help over the holiday season.
“Being a parent I couldn’t imagine something happening to me and being torn from my kids’ lives,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Harmon, a base equipment officer from the 118th CS. “I would be blown away to know strangers came together to give my kids a better Christmas, I would be so grateful.”
In 2016 the junior members of the squadron donated money in order to buy a little girl toys to have a better Christmas after losing her family in a car accident. After the support shown and the reaction for this little girl the members knew this was something that they wanted to continue.
“It feels good to know we’re able to help people in need,” said Staff Sgt. Ernest Hayes, a cyber surety craftsman from the 118th CS.
He wants the squadron to know these donations are greatly appreciated, said Hayes. This is a good family, Gary is a good dad to his kids and very family orientated. The time, effort and money won’t be wasted going to this family.
Harmon and Hayes were surprised by how much the squadron pulled together and donated.
The squadron was able to collect enough donations to give gift cards to the three daughters for a department store in order to purchase anything they may need such as clothes, shoes or jewelry. Clothing and small house hold items were donated for all the family members. Gary and Renee (mother) received a gift card for dinner and a movie in order to go out and relax with each other during this stressful time.
Some donations even had to be turned away simply because the family just did not have the space to store them.
“We thank you, dealing with what we had to deal with its good to know that people still care,” said Gary Scales, the father of family who received donations from the 118th CS. “This right here shows that they care and we really appreciate it coming from all of us, the Scales’ family.
After receiving all the donations the Scales family joined the Christmas celebration with the rest of the 118th Wing family. There was food, face painting, laughter, and of course Santa to spread the giving spirit.
| Date Taken: | 12.03.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.22.2018 12:14 |
| Story ID: | 260008 |
| Location: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Hometown: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 118th Comm Squadron Helps Family After House Fire, by SSgt Caitlin Conner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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