Denver-area girl scouts send Christmas cheer to deployed AF Reservists

  • Published
  • By Maj. Kallece Quinn
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Even before they arrived back in the U.S. to awaiting loved ones, deployed members of the 302nd Security Forces Squadron were treated to a heart-filled surprise from young Americans on Christmas Day. 

In December 2008, more than 35 letters and various ornaments from Girl Scout Troop 827 in Highlands Ranch, Colo., were delivered to the men and women of Alpha Sector, 506th Expeditionary SFS at Forward Operation Base Warrior, Kirkuk Regional Air Base in northern Iraq. And they got there just in time to express a special season's greetings. 

"We thought it was important to remember our armed forces over Christmas time because they do so much for us and they are away from their families," said Anna Fisher, a member of the Girl Scout troop. "We wanted to make and send these letters and ornaments to thank the service people for all they do to keep us safe." 

But initially it was a challenge getting the Girl Scout's package to Iraq. Originally sent to a couple of soldiers identified by one of the girls' uncles in the Army, the letters and trinkets were returned on Dec. 4 by the postal service because the individuals could not be located. This is not uncommon in many deployed locations as military members are shuffled around, and a mailing address can be an afterthought. 

"We were very disappointed because the girls work hard on this project each year," said Dena Fisher, Anna's mother and co-leader of the troop. "We didn't know how we would get them overseas in time or who we would send them too." 

Wanting to make sure the hard work put into the letters and ornaments did not go in vain, Dena looked to her neighbor's boyfriend for assistance. Dena's husband, a former Airman, noticed a uniformed member next door and that's when they came up with a plan. 

"Since it was Dec. 4, we didn't have time to send them directly back to Iraq in time for Christmas," Mrs. Fisher said. "So my husband suggested we talk to our neighbor Lindsey because she was dating an Airman. We figured if we give them to her to give to him, maybe he could find a way to get them overseas in time for Christmas." 

Her neighbor, Lindsey Downing was dating Senior Airman Stephen Collier, a member of the 302nd Airlift Wing's Public Affairs office.
 
"Once Dena gave them to me, I figured Steve could do something with them," Ms. Downing said. "I figured he knew how to get them mailed over there quickly." 

"Once I heard about Dena's Girl Scout troop trying to do something nice for the men and women overseas, I knew I had to help," Airman Collier said. " I knew at the time, we had members of our security forces squadrons in Iraq and that's when I started making phone calls." 

Those phone calls, and later e-mails, led to Maj. Dave Lehrman, the senior-ranking member of the deployed Airmen from the 302nd SFS. With the coordinated effort and persistence, the ornaments and letters arrived just in time: Dec. 23. 

"I was elated when I got an e-mail from the major on the 23rd (of December) saying the packages arrived," Airman Collier continued. "Talk about cutting it close. But after I got that e-mail, I got on the phone and called Dena right away." 

But the surprises weren't over yet. Unbeknownst to the girls, the Citizen Airmen, deployed to the air base located adjacent to more than 750,000 Iraqis, had each taken digital photos of themselves with the cards to send back to the anxious girl scouts, who were awaiting word of the fate of the packages. 

Anna and the girls were ecstatic to receive the news and photos, confirming their hard work paid off. The reaction on the Airmen's faces confirmed what Anna would hope to have happen: they (servicemembers) might feel happy because they received the cards at Christmas. 

"I am really thankful that my family is here with me because people who serve in Iraq don't get to see their families very often," the young girl scout said. "I want to say thank you and I hope they have a Merry Christmas." 

Together with receiving the cards and ornaments and the Airmen now back from their deployment, there is no doubt these Air Force reservists are receiving the ultimately Christmas gift of all: love.

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