Altus AFB celebrates Christmas in August with Tipton Children's Home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Klynne Pearl Serrano
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Children from the Tipton Children's Home celebrated Christmas in August at the base chapel Aug. 11, 2012.

The visit included a C-17 Globemaster III static display, fire trucks, security forces vehicles and lunch at the base chapel.

"This is the children's first time on the base," said Chaplain (Maj.) Trent Davis, 97th Air Mobility Wing chaplain. "We are grateful to the members of the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron for picking the children up from the Tipton Home and bringing them on base."

After lunch the children were escorted to the sanctuary to find presents with their names on it.

"It was amazing to see the kids' eyes light up when they saw presents with their names on them," said Ms. Lynn Burns, 97th Air Mobility Wing chapel secretary. "The presents included school supplies, clothes, shoes and bags, depending on what each child needed."

"We asked for the children's sizes and favorite colors so that the people who pick their names off the tree would know what kind of bag the child may like or what color shirts to get the child," Burns said.

The room filled with smiles when the children opened their presents.

"You can tell how excited they were and how thankful they were when they opened their gifts," Davis said. "This is the reason why we help those who don't have much."

A Christmas tree stood in the chapel with ornaments with the children's names, age, grade, and what they needed and wanted on them.

"We were blessed again with people all over the base coming in and taking the names," Burns said. "The miracle starts happening when bags come in and it slowly builds."

"We just want the kids to feel that 'wow' and that Altus Air Force Base cares about you," Burns said.

Davis expressed how the Air Force core value, service before self, played out that weekend.

"So many people on base helped make this happen--from the people who cooked the food, to the volunteers, and of course those who picked names off the Christmas tree and brought gifts for the kids," Davis said. "I'd like to thank all of you who helped out with this visit."

"Service Before Self is definitely a value that is within us," Davis said.