Newspaper Page Text
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♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2006
Holiday deployments prove tough on families
By Jennifer Bugay
Journal Correspondent
Christmas is just around
the corner. While many
families are preparing to
celebrate with family and
friends, military families
aren’t blessed to have all
their loved ones with them
this time of year.
For some families, the holi
days are incomplete because
spouses, brothers and sister
are away on military deploy
ments and TDY assignments.
These families celebrate the
holidays through email and
by telephone.
Those left behind find
missing someone during the
holidays is hard. For them,
the holiday season is not a
joyful time of year.
Georgia National Fairgrounds Events
Jan, 5-6, 2007
Georgia Farm Credit
Winter Pig Classic
■ New South Arena/Sheep
& Swine Barn 1
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 3,465
Information: 912-248-
2236
Jan. 5-7, 2007
U.S. Team Roping
Championships
■ Horse Barn/Covered
Horse Arena/Reaves Arena
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 2,715
Information: 386-546-
3210
Jan. 6. 2007
Houston County
Junior Commercial
Dairy Heifer Show
■ Beef Dairy Arena/Beef
Dairy Barn
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 275
Information: 478-988-
6312
Community Events
■ CHRISTMAS EVE
SERVICE -Center Stage
for Christ presents “Jesus
8.C.” at the Christmas Eve
morning service at Perry
United Methodist Church
from 9-11 a.m.
■ WORK SESSION
- The Warner Robins City
Council work session is
scheduled for Dec. 28 at 4
p.m. in the upstairs confer
ence room, Warner Robins
City Hall. 800 Watson Blvd.
H SELF
MANAGEMENT CLASS
- A hypertension self-man
agement class will be held
Jan. 3, 2007 from 4-5 p.m.
at the Houston Health
Pavilion EduCare Center.
Gain the knowledge and
skills you need to control
your high blood pressure
(hypertension). This class
is comprised of an initial
one-hour session followed
by five monthly weight and
blood pressure screenings.
Educational materials will
be available. Call 478-923-
9771 to pre-register.
■ REPUBLICAN
How to Submit
■ To submit your event for the Community Calendar, fax the details to (478) 988-1181, e
mail to jtidwell(a evansnewspapers.com or mail to Houston Daily Journal, EO. Box 1910,
Perrv, GA 31069
Airman Aviles graduates from basic
Special to the Journal
Air Force Airman Josueli
A. Aviles has graduated
from basic military training
at Lackland Air Force Base,
San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of
training, Aviles studied the
Air Force mission, organiza
tion, and military customs
and courtesies; performed
drill and
ceremony
marches,
and received
physical
training,
rifle marks
manship,
field train
ing exercis
es, and spe
cial training
in human
AVILES
relations. In addition, those
who complete basic train-
Because many deploy
ments are classified, con
tact is limited. Units on the
Robins Air Force Base who
have members deployed or
TDY to a classified loca
tion have support systems
for the families left behind.
These support groups help
with transportation, house
hold chores and other small
everyday needs.
Those help greatly but
they don’t replace the sad
ness.
“My husband will be
deployed all through
Christmas,” said one spouse.
“It’s hard on my children
who see their father in and
out of their lives. They are
too young to understand
their father’s job and why
he is always on call. -
Jan. 8, 2007
Go Tell Crusades with
Rick Cage
■ Miller Hall
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 1,000
Information: 478-953-
7480
Jan. 11-19, 2007
WBCCI Airstream RV
Meeting
■ Georgia Bldg./Heritage
Hall/Roquemore/McGill
Mkt.
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 800
Information: 757-646-
4300
Jan.l2-14, 2007
Georgia Horse Council
& Southern States
NBHA
■ Reaves Arena/Covered
Horse Arena/Horse Barn/
Multi Purpose Bldg
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 4,635
Information: 770-922-
3350
BREAKFAST - The
Republican breakfast meet
ing will be held Jan. 6, 2007
at 8:30 a.m. at Sonny’s
Real Pit BBQ on Russell
Parkway in Warner Robins.
No reservations necessary.
Continental breakfast avail
able at a cost of $3.25.
■ TABACCO
CESSATION - A tobacco
cessation course will be held
Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2007
from 4:30-6:30 p.m.i n the
Houston Health Pavilion
EduCare Center. The free
four-session course to help
you quit smoking and/or
using tobacco. Call 478-923-
9771 to pre-register.
■ C HAMBER MEETING
- The Georgia Chamber
of Commerce will host its
annual meeting dinner and
Eggs & Issues breakfast
Jan. 8-9, 2007 at the Georgia
World Congress Center in
Atlanta. Ron Galloway, a
pro-business author, film
maker and speaker will
headline the dinner the first
day (Monday). That Tuesday
more than 2,500 business
ing earn credits toward an
associate degree through the
Community College of the
Air Force.
He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Avies Jimenez of
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“One day I will explain it
to them,” she added, “but
for right now, it’s best the
way it is. I know what we
believe in as a family.
This woman is raising her
two children on her own
with the support of her hus
band’s unit. The unit helps
out with babysitting and
transportation.
“My husband’s job is
defending our beliefs; there
fore, I can’t complain,” she
said. “Yes I want him home
for the holidays, but I think
I would be acting selfish.
His duty to our country is
important to him, so that
alone makes it important to
me.
“Freedom isn’t free so I
ask people to please pray for
the soldiers fighting for it.
Jan. 19-21, 2007
Georgia Reined Cow
Horse Show
■ Covered Horse Arena/
Horse Barn
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 380
Information: 229-317-
3921
Jan. 26-28, 2007
HQHA Winter Classic
Quarter Horse Show
■ Reaves Arena/Covered
Horse Arena/Horse Barn
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 1,845
Information: 770-227-
2159
Jan. 26-28, 2007
National Swine
Registry Swine Show
■ New South Arena/Sheep
& Swine Barn/Hoof & Horn
Room
Estimated number of peo
ple is set at 1,000
Information: 765-463-
3594
and community leaders and
elected officials will gath
er again for the breakfast.
Newly re-elected Gov. Sonny
Perdue, Lt. Gov.-elect Casey
Cagle and Speaker of the
House Glenn Richardson
will all be on hand to speak.
According to Georgia
Chamber President & CEO,
George Israel, “Each year’s
Eggs & Issues Breakfast
seems to get larger and take
on more importance, and we
expect the 2007 events to be
especially significant follow
ing the elections.” Tickets
are SIOO each with tables
of 10 available for SI,OOO.
Eggs & Issues breakfast
tickets are SSO with tables
of 10 available for SSOO.
For more information, visit
www.gachamber.com, or con
tact the Georgia Chamber at
404-223-2264 or toll free at
1-800-241-2286.
■ SUPPORT GROUP
- A multiple sclerosis sup
port group will meet Jan.
9, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the
Houston Health Pavilion
EduCare Center.
Quebradillas, Puerto Rico,
and brother of Jesuan Aviles
of Castle Pines, Bonaire.
Aviles is a 2005 graduate of
Manuel Ramos Hernandez
High School, Quebradillas.
LOCAL
Help us by praying to bring
them all home safely.”
Another Air Force wife is
having a hard time with her
husband’s TDY assignment.
She said that he is TDY every
holiday and family event. He
was deployed for their son’s
birthday and has spent little
time with his son since.
The one thing she does
like is having her husband’s
unit support group because
she does not think she could
make it through the holi
days again without him.
“E-mails and short phone
conversations just are not
enough during this time of
year. I want him home so
bad that it hurts,” she said.
“Our son is growing up with
out his father.
“Our son does not rec
McDonald promoted to commander
Special to the Jumasl
R.G. Scott McDonald was
recently promoted to com
mander in the U.S. Navy.
McDonald assumed the
duties of executive officer of
the Strike Fighter Weapons
School Atlantic, Nov 17.
After graduating from
Troy State University, Troy,
Ala., McDonald entered
Aviation Officer Candidate
School and was commis
sioned in June, 1990. Over
the next several months
McDonald completed Naval
Flight Officer Training at
NAS Pensacola and was
selected to fly in the F-14
jet fighter aircraft. He was
transferred to NAS Oceana,
Virginia Beach, Va., where
he was assigned to VF-143
fighter squadron. In 2000
McDonald successfully
completed the U.S. Navy
Weapons School (TOPGUN)
and was assigned to VF
-121, “The Diamond backs,”
another F-14 fighter squad
ron.
He has accumulated
2,500 flying hours in an
F-14 fighter aircraft, and
has completed tours of duty
in Iraq operating from the
USS George Washington,
USS Kennedy and the USS
Kitty Hawk.
He also participated in
the shakedown cruise of the
Ocmulgee
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ognize his own father yet.
I wish just one year they
wouldn’t deploy him, so he
can spend the time with us.
There hasn’t been a holiday
with my husband since we
got married.”
She made it a point to say
that she understands how
important her husband’s job
is but that family is just as
important, too.
“It hurts. It’s painful and
scary. Some days I think I’m
going to get a call telling me
that my husband is badly
hurt or even dead,” she said.
“Every time he is sent to
the desert my heart drops.
I know I’m being self-cen
tered, but I just want my
husband home.”
She pointed out that,
unfortunately, the support
g n 'it* %
f ji *
■ m
; .-y-..
Contributed
R.G. Scott McDonald
USS Harry Truman.
In preparation for his new
duties, he qualified in the
F-18 Super Hornet fighter
aircraft which is the air
craft assigned to the Strike
Fighter Weapons School.
McDonald graduated
from Mount de Sales High
School, Macon. He and his
Office: 478-224-7070
Fax: 478-224-7072
Email: info@ocmulgeesite.com
For more information or a tour ot Summerhill
Call Carol Baxter at: (4”8) 98“’-3100
500 Stanley Street • Perry, GA 31069
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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
unit can only do some much.
It cannot replace that empty
feeling caused by a missing
family member.
Families who have fam
ily members deployed are
celebrating the holidays the
best way they know how.
Short conversations and
emails are the main com
munication because most
deployments are classified
for safety reasons.
The units’ support sys
tems do everything they can
but often, it is not enough
to help with the mixed emo
tions.
While celebrating with
family and friends this holi
day season, remember the
airmen, soldiers, Marines
and sailors serving away
from home.
wife Carol and three chil
dren live in Virginia Beach,
Va.
He is the son of Vera and
Bobby McDonald of Warner
Robins.
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