- April 26, 2024
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The Palm Coast VFW hosted a welcome home and Christmas party Sunday, Dec. 2, for members of the Daytona 194th Transport Company, of the U.S. Army Reserves.
These troops have been returning home from Afghanistan over the past year — many within the last 30 days.
“We wanted to make this as special as possible because these people mean so much to us,” said Mary McDermott, of the Veterans and Family Committee at Post No. 8696. “We understand their family’s sacrifice, which is something that goes unheralded a lot. And to be able to share Christmas — their homecoming with their families — it means a lot to us, and that’s why we’re sponsoring.”
Part of the mission of VFW Post No. 8696 is to welcome home troops from deployment, but Bob Beck and a ladies auxiliary took it a step further by hosting and sponsoring a full Christmas party for the unit.
Santa even made a visit to the event.
“It’s really important that our men, who do so much for us, and then carry the burdens of what they’ve done the rest of our lives for us, that they understand how much they are loved, welcomed and supported,” McDermott said.
Sgt. James Wilson, who lives in Palm Coast, was instrumental in planning the event. He said having the support system takes some of the burden off.
“When you get back to open arms, when you have a good support system, family, our unit and the Palm Coast VFW, when you have those type of organizations and support groups, it’s welcoming,” he said.
Email Shanna Fortier at [email protected].
