Operation Cheer provides poinsettias to wounded Published Dec. 22, 2008 By Sean Bowlin 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- A Randolph Air Force Base chaplain is showing his love for wounded warriors this holiday season with a lot of help from his flock. Chaplain (Capt.) Eric Boyer of the 12th Flying Training Wing encouraged base members to contribute to Operation Cheer, a program that brings a dose of the holiday spirit to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from wounds in local military hospitals. In its second year, Operation Cheer takes donations from chapel attendees and uses the money to buy poinsettia plants for warfighters recovering from wounds and their families in the area. Last year, parishioners bought 186 poinsettias and donated them to wounded members at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB, Texas, Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and to families of the wounded staying at the Fort Sam Houston-based Fisher House. This year's donated poinsettias will be given out Dec. 23 at the same facilities and at the Warrior Transition and Support Center at Fort Sam Houston. The response from Randolph AFB members has been overwhelming, said Collis Thorn, the 12th FTW Chaplain's Office Protestant parish coordinator. This year, base members bought and donated 483 poinsettias. The poinsettias are bagged in Chapel 1. From there, volunteers put a card in each one and will distribute them after the second Christmas service to be held in Chapel 1 Dec. 23. Some of those volunteers said spending hour after hour bagging the poinsettias and setting them out in church pews in Chapel 1 for easy pickup was a labor of love. It was the least they could do for those wounded who asked for nothing and sacrificed a lot. "I'm exhausted doing this and I feel good about it," said Merle Herren, a retired Air Force civilian who has been a parishioner for 21 years. "This is wonderful and it's something nice we can do for the wounded," said Connie Bell, a 36-year parishioner and volunteer. "I consider it a tremendous privilege that we here can do anything for the wounded after what they have done for us," Chaplain Boyer said. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page