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District provides holiday care packages to deployed soldiers

November 24, 2008
By Brittany Brown
Norfolk District Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. — For the past four years the Norfolk District has packaged up boxes of holiday cheer destined for deployed personnel serving their country thousands of miles away in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT). Each holiday season, the Family Support Group collects goodies to include in care packages, as well as monetary donations to help with shipping costs. In addition to receiving donations from district employees operating out of the Waterfield Building, the Family Support Group has also received donations from the Abingdon Regulatory Office, Fort Lee, Great Bridge, Target, private architectural and engineering firms and a large host of individuals.

Based on the tremendous outpouring of support this holiday season, the Family Support Group was able to send 12 care packages to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait just in time for the holidays. Deployed Norfolk District employees as well as deployed family and friends of the district will receive boxes filled to the brim with a Christmas tree and decorations, toiletries, games, books and snacks. Each box contains a little something from home to bring the holiday spirit to their home overseas. The Family Support Group convenes three times a year to send packages, but this particular shipment has a deeper meaning for families separated during the holiday season.

Family Support Group Coordinator Jerri Wehrle started the initiative four years ago after being approached by Glenn Seay, a Norfolk District employee who served in Iraq as a project manager overseeing $23.6 billion in projects.

"Being a military wife, I know what the home front goes through with being both parents and holding down the fort. I could sympathize with families and be there to support them because I have been in the same shoes as them," said Wehrle.

Wehrle draws on her experience as she provides support to military families by making phone calls, sending flowers on special occasions, sending cards and staying in touch through emails.

For more information on the district's GWOT recruiting efforts, see www.youtube.com/armyengineersnorfolk.

Norfolk District employees deployed over the holidays:

  • Antonio Bastidas
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michael Darrow
  • Huong Huynh
  • Jamie Pastrana
  • Johnnie Saunders
  • William “Jerry” Swean

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