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Do you know how you can help?

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Stress is inevitable. A crisis comes at the least expected moments. Struggle is common. And feeling the wrath of hardship is an emotion that nearly all will feel at some point in their lives. One might wonder where help comes from. Others might wonder how they can be of help to someone else.

There are always programs from the Airman & Family Readiness Center and other organizations on base. But those wanting to help with deployment gifts for servicemembers, holding fun events for servicemembers' families or assisting with any other project that could possibly help any Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman or Coast Guardsmen can also look into our remarkable surrounding communities in the Inland Northwest.

One organization just outside the gates that has the resources and desire to care for the nation's greatest is Operation Spokane Heroes. OSH, currently with approximately 40 members and a mass support system from local businesses and organizations, is a program designed to create a cohesive community that can provide the best possible support to military servicemembers and their families.

When you're watching the news, too many times you see the negative aspects of the war. "What we want is for people to support the troops and show the positive things that are going on," said Sandy Kates, current chair of OSH.

Some examples of what OSH has done and will continue to do in the past is show support through such events as the carrousel party held each December at Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane, Wash. Military members and their children head to the park for fun, food, drinks and a special meeting with Santa Claus, who often arrives on some sort of military vehicle, such as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. OSH also hosts the Annual Pancake Breakfast in May for servicemembers and civilians, which is a major fundraiser for the organization.

"We use those funds to put together a number of events throughout the year," Ms. Kates noted. "It's always a lot of fun and it's a major fundraiser for our other programs in Operation Spokane Heroes."

Another highly visible event OSH conducts is the Support the Troops rally held outside the base gate. Alongside members of OSH are the Veteran American Legion Riders, greeting servicemembers from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, 141st Air National Guard, 336th Training Group and other tenant units on base as they head into the shop for another day's work.

The group also makes a presence for the deployment and redeployment of troops, with a hearty farewell and welcome-back greeting.

"It's important for us to greet the troops as they come back and see them off as they leave," said Ms. Kates. "We coordinate with the Patriot Guard Riders, an organization of motorcycle riders, making sure our troops get a hero's send-off and a hero's welcome."

Overall, the organization provides positive encouragement and assistance to the masses of troops in the region from all services.

"What we do is show support for the troops," said Ms. Kates. "Any time we are able to show our appreciation, we do it."