From left, Karen Mikulski, Greg Laubisch, and Nicole Querry fill out cards to be included with holiday packages prepared on Friday for distribution by Operation Homefront, locally. (Photo by Wendy Post)
In another effort to show support for area service members, and in recognition of Veterans Day, Operation Homefront and Lockheed Martin volunteers ensured hundreds of local military families have special treats for Thanksgiving by preparing holiday snack packs on Friday during a packaging event at the Owego plant.
According to Jeff Brown, Communications and Public Affairs manager at Lockheed Martin, the packages will be distributed locally through Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that supports military families at home.
According to Peter Stinson, senior director for Operation Homefront, their mission is to help military families thrive. He also echoed the organization’s Mission, stating, “Our troops and their families work tirelessly to protect the freedoms we enjoy daily and they deserve our very best efforts to support them.”
As for the packages put together on Friday, Stinson explained they would be distributed to local families in Northeast Pennsylvania and Southern New York.
Peter Stinson, senior director for Operation Homefront, and Lockheed Martin employee Nicole Querry finalize the cards to be included with holiday packages prepared on Friday for distribution by Operation Homefront, locally. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Stinson stated that they work all over New York and Pennsylvania, and that they held a holiday meal event at Fort Drum in Watertown, N.Y. on Thursday, just one day prior to the Lockheed packaging event.
He explained that the organization offers a variety of support to service members and their families and also provides mortgage free housing to veterans, and have done several so far in New York.
For Lockheed Martin, showing support to veterans is a priority.
Tom Kane, director of Naval Helicopters at Lockheed Martin, stated that Lockheed has a passion for veterans. In fact, they wear red on Fridays, which means “Remember Everyone Deployed.”
Kane noted that this project not only supports military families, it gives the volunteers a sense of camaraderie. “It’s more about the thought behind it,” said Kane.
Once the packages are assembled, according to Stinson, they will be delivered to a local reserve unit for distribution.
These red shirts are pictured at the venue where the Binghamton Devils will play against the Utica Comets on Saturday. The Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, N.Y. will admit current military and veterans for free on this Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by Lockheed Martin. Provided photo.
As for the wearing of red on Fridays, Jeff Brown highlighted that the shirts prepared for a Binghamton Devil’s game planned for Saturday are red. In addition, the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton will admit current military and veterans for free on this Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by Lockheed Martin.
The game starts at 7:05 p.m., and you can learn more at www.binghamtondevils.com/.
To learn more about Operation Homefront, visit www.operationhomefront.org.
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