Warming up for the Thanksgiving holiday

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Racheal E. Watson
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Often times Airmen and their families spend the holiday season away from their extended blood relatives.

To keep the sense of spending time with family alive, various groups within the 354th Fighter Wing gathered together across the base in Thanksgiving celebrations Nov. 20.

"When we can't be with blood family, it is important to get together with our Air Force family," said Chief Master Sgt. Jason Petersen, the 354th Communications Squadron chief enlisted manager.

With food lining the tables with all the traditional holiday fixings made by fellow co-workers, Airmen were provided the chance to socialize and get know each other outside of work.

"When you're not with your family during the holidays, it can be depressing," said Airman 1st Class Cameron Butler, a 354th Communications Squadron net administrator. "This takes a lot of those feelings and replaces it with caring people, fun and laughter."

Butler also commented that getting out of the office is important to everyone's morale and gave him a chance to try new food, especially the desserts.

Although most tables were filled with turkey, stuffing and other old-fashioned favorites, the 354th Maintenance Group took a different spin to the holiday tradition by hosting a chili cook off.

"Getting together and celebrating Thanksgiving with a chili cook off breaks the Airmen away from the normal tradition, allowing them to have fun with it and get them out of the cold," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Riemenschneider, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron program section chief.

Fifty-three pots of chili, ranging from mild to "dragon's blood" hot were concocted for the maintenance festivities. Maintenance members entered their chili masterpieces in one of the five categories.

The gatherings gave Airmen who may not be returning home for the holiday a chance to bond with their Air Force family. 

Whether the early Thanksgiving was traditional or slightly off beat like the maintenance group, Peterson wished everyone a safe and happy holiday.