Airmen light up Afghanistan camp with holiday cheer

  • Published
  • By Capt. Michael Meridith
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Airmen here found a dazzling way to capture a little bit of the holiday season Dec. 8 amidst the snow-capped peaks of Afghanistan and thousands of miles from home. 

A switch was pulled illuminating a 30-foot wreath and 1,200 feet of holiday lights draped across the control tower in Camp Cunningham here. 

The project was organized by Chief Master Sgt. Donald Sibble, the Camp Cunningham mayor, and weeks of volunteer efforts by dozens of Airmen from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, the 1st Expeditionary REDHORSE Squadron. Several private organizations to include the Top Three, Route 5/6 and Airmen Committed to Excellence contributed to the holiday lights. 

"Initially we asked ourselves, 'Can we really pull this off?' In the spirit of getting things done, everyone came together," Chief Sibble said. "I've always believed that if you give Airmen an opportunity to excel, they can overcome any obstacle in the way." 

A desire to bring holiday cheer to hard-working Airmen motivated the volunteers, said Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Johnson, the Route 5/6 president who was involved in the project. 

"(The members of the 455th AEW) had never done anything like this before," she said. "But it has become a focal point for Airmen. When they are tired and worn out after a hard day of work, they look up at it and it picks them up." 

Following the lighting of the tower, Airmen celebrated by singing holiday carols and sharing each other's company over cups of hot chocolate in the winter temperatures. 

"If you can't be with your families, if you can't be with the ones you love, then it's good to be with the ones who love the same things you do," said Brig. Gen. James W. Hyatt, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "That's our great Airmen, great Soldiers and all the people we're with here." 

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