Even rainy weather did not stop fallen service members surviving family members from attending the Happy Who-liday Party, Dec. 2, at Java Café on Redstone Arsenal.
The party, hosted by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Survivor Outreach Services, provided food, fellowship, fun and holiday spirit for the nearly 50 attendees, most decked out in holiday pajamas or attire.
I was concerned that the rainy weather would discourage them from attending, said Michelle Smith, USASMDC’s SOS coordinator and a program analyst with the Technical Center’s Business Management Directorate’s Financial Management Division. I was very excited to see the number of SOS families who decided to attend the event.
Nearly 40 volunteers provided food and worked during the event. Activities included crafts and games; Who-liday bingo; a cake walk; Grinchmas left-right story lunch; and visits by both Santa and the Grinch.
A few people came up to me during the event to let me know how much fun they were having and commented on the great job everyone did, Smith said. My goal was to make sure this event was memorable, the families interacted with each other, and most of all, everyone had fun. I wanted them to participate with all the fun games I had planned and be glad they chose to come to the Happy Who-liday Party versus staying home.