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Get Creative with NYE Celebrations This Year

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Get with you Quarun-team

In keeping with state-specific guidelines in regards to group size, avoid large group gatherings, and stick to your family or quarun-team, aka the group of people who are in your safe circle and stick to that. While the holidays are a great time to get together with friends, with COVID-19 and flu season, no one wants to be sick over the holidays. Get your group together and celebrate in a fun and unique ways that are as unique as the year 2020.

Make it a Bake Off!

Gather baking supplies, look up your favorite baking show, and find a topic or recipe to try and do it! Have fun together trying something new and maybe you will create your new favorite bread courtesy of Paul Hollywood or custard that Mary Berry would favor.  

Fireworks whenever you want

The sparkling fireworks and the accompanying music is a highlight for outdoor NYE celebrations. Continue them from home before midnight by streaming fireworks from Disneyland via their Youtube channel or from the Nagaoka fireworks Festival show in Japan who as a country have the best fireworks you have ever seen. Just type in “fireworks” on YouTube or an online video search engine of your choice and guarantee you will find the perfect firework style and length to suit your taste.

Craft a Memory Keepsake

While a lot of people are ready to just get the year over with, the truth is, it has happened. While there aren’t vacation photos like years past or birthday parties with huge cakes, chances are there are lots of selfies, pictures of science experiments, and game nights. Consider printing off a few to make a scrapbook or photo book or perhaps a photo ornament. Celebrate the silver linings of this year and build more memories together.

Pjs and a Movie

In keeping with making New Year’s Eve whatever you want, consider cuddling up in comfy PJs, make a couch fort with blanket and pillows, and pop in a movie – you know those digital video discs that we all owned – or stream a movie and relax and enjoy. Make it a phone-free event for extra enjoyment!

Dinner Buffet

While keeping it your family or quarun-team, put out fun plates of veggies, fruit, crackers, jams, cheese, meats and enjoy noshing over a fun appetizer-like dinner that you may see at NYE parties. Remember to never leave perishable food out for longer than 2 hours as that can become a bacteria breeding ground.

Make a Photo Booth

Use things you have at home to decorate a wall – maybe a bunch of tissue paper or wrapping paper to make “stars.” Use paper plates to make face masks, or perhaps dig into your Halloween or dress-up bin and go to town taking selfies to commemorate the year. Use cardboard boxes to make a background frame with a fun slogan or perhaps to make cardboard cut-out glasses.

Bust out the Games

Make it a game day and go to town on card games like Uno or Go Fish, or if you have older family members consider lengthy games of Risk or Clue. Go really old school by playing musical chairs – there is something fun about musical chairs that gets everyone giggly and giddy.

It’s a Dance Party!

Check out the many dance playlists on your choice of device and clear the living room or dining room or dorm room to make it a dance party! Make it personal by getting everyone together to build your own playlist, and share it with your dearest friends. Consider getting friends or family in on it by video chatting with them while sharing the music.

While collectively, the world is looking forward to a new year and continuing to go forward, don’t forget to celebrate and have fun! It may be 2020, but it is still New Year’s Eve!

What are you doing to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Let us know in the comments!

6 Ways to Get Outside This Winter

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Getting outdoors is imperative. It is a crucial building block of mental health, boosts the immune system with vitamin D provided by the sun and improves circulation with moving around. When it is cold outside, it is darn difficult to get motivated to go outside. Especially when you have to think about layers on yourself, or putting all. those. layers. on the potty-training toddler.  Do yourself the mental health break and try to get outside every couple of days. Don’t forget the sunblock – even if it is clouded sky, there is still ultraviolet rays from the sun so protect your skin when you are outdoors with at least an SPF of 15 or higher. It should go without saying, if the winter conditions are unsafe, do not venture outdoors.

Embrace the Snow

Resist the cuddle up and stay inside all day idea and bundle up for some fun in the snow! Build a snowman, make snow angels and throw some snowballs. You might have to come inside for some warm up breaks depending on the temperature, but snow is but temporary. Even Olaf melted a couple times, and was only saved by Elsa’s icy powers. Consider taking food coloring out to color the snow, or adding food coloring to water as you make ice and toss the ice cubes in the snow. Don’t forget about sledding – it’s the acceptable time to push those kiddos down the hill…on the sled!

Hiking

If you are properly dressed with layers of gloves, coats, scarves, and hats, hiking can be enjoyable. Getting out and walking around will warm everyone in the hiking party and you might find yourself shedding layers. Explore a National Park or State Park near you – you can head back and forth to the heat of the car if needed, but also explore somewhere outside your house preventing cabin fever.

Enjoy the Ice

For the little kids and big kids alike, freezing bubbles is an exciting experiment. All you need is a bubble wand and soap water – blow a bubble in the freezing temperatures and watch it freeze! Better yet, you can enjoy this outdoor winter fun on your doorstoop or deck with layers on and heat and a warm bathroom nearby.

Make it a White Snow Beach Day

It might sound silly – but go with me here. When you have the whispy snow, it is the perfect time for a “beach” day.  Break out the beach toys and bring them into the snow! Toss a beach ball around, build snow dunes and use the sand toys to build snow castles. It sounds crazy, but the fully-bundled littles will not once complain about it being cold when they are playing beach in the snow. Olaf likes summer after all.

Make a Maze

If you have snow – make a maze out of snow! It may not be four feet tall, but just walking through a path is a fun distraction. No snow? Make a maze our of boxes, chairs or whatever you have outside. Maybe even with chalk if it is warm enough. Anything to make the outdoor time more enjoyable and different will add variety and fun to outdoor time.

Winter Family Photo Shoot

While the cold means you are bundled up, it doesn’t mean you can’t have some awesome and hilarious photos. Set up a camera on a table or chair, or a tripod if you have one, and go to town taking photos! Set up the auto shoot and start throwing snowballs, or build play a game of tag. It is not the traditional matching outfits family photo, but guarantee it will be a memorable one.

Now, if you are living on Southern California or Florida, you might have to rely on the house of mouse or use bubbles to make faux snow, but you are still able get out and hike and explore! And those beach photos in the winter will surely be memorable.

I think this year, after all of the quarantining, social distancing and indoor time, we are all feeling cabin fever and it isn’t even cold outside yet. We will be doing all the outdoor things we can do this winter safely. We are stocked up on winter gear so we can be appropriately bundled in a jacket, gloves, scarves, hats and boots to make the most out of being outdoors.

What is your favorite winter outdoor activity?

12 Stocking Stuffers… to get at the Commissary

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  1. An orange – maybe just one if you live overseas and dealing with OCONUS prices, but stateside one whole bag can stretch across your entire family’s stockings! Apples are also awesome additions to the stocking – any fruit that won’t bruise while in the stocking.
  2. Dried fruit – dried mango, apricots, figs in the produce aisle are healthier versions of fruit snacks.
  3. Spiced nuts – usually on an end cap or in the produce aisle, pre-shelled nuts with holiday spices are a yummy treat and perfectly fit in a stocking.
  4. Cookie decorating décor – fun sprinkles, tube icing, almond extract are the perfect stocking stuffers for the little baker – get in on the baking after the holidays with some fun decorating items from the baking aisle.
  5. Hot cocoa packets – Grab a packet or two of specialty cocoas to try a variety!
  6. Single-serve coffee – for the adults, consider a new canned coffee or instant coffee powder for a caffeine pick me up.
  7. Cider packets – specialty flavored cider packets like caramel apple or apple spice are a fun addition to the stocking without having to commit to a whole box.
  8. Spice mix – the International aisle has a bounty of spice mixes from all around the world – curry or enchilada mixes are perfect to pair with that holiday turkey for fun leftovers, grab a packet or box to put in the stocking.
  9. Sauce – the International Aisle has jarred sauces like tikka masala, adobo, or marinara – there are so many options, consider getting one for yourself!
  10. International Treats – One more time for the International aisle – from German bread mixes to British cookies, you really can’t go wrong with choosing a treat from this aisle.
  11. Movie style candy – check out the candy aisle to grab each family members’ favorite movie candies to prep for a family movie night
  12. Holiday treats – Check out the holiday display for other International Holiday foods like mince pies, German cookies, or the traditional fruit cake – try something new!

The commissary is a great place to stock up on stocking stuffers. Foodstuffs can add pizazz to meal making, which we could all use a little extra of this year. Bonus that this is a one-stop shop if you are already shopping for the holiday meal! Happy Shopping!

The National Museum of the United States Army Now Open

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Located on a publicly accessible area of Fort Belvoir, Virginia

The National Museum of the United States Army opened on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020. It is the first museum to tell the entire history of the U.S. Army from 1775 to the present day. The museum is located on a publicly accessible area of Fort Belvoir, Virginia allowed the general public to easily access it without having to get a pass and go through a gate of the installation.

“The U.S. Army and the American Soldier forged the birth of our nation,” said Secretary of the Army, Ryan D. McCarthy. “The National Army Museum will be a place for members of the total Army family to gather and share their stories, while also creating an opportunity for visitors to connect with our nation’s history through the eyes and voices of individual Soldiers.”

The U.S. Army and the Army Historical Foundation (AHF), the official fundraising 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for the museum established in 1983, partnered to establish the National Museum of the United States Army.  The Army provided the land, roads, utilities, infrastructure, and exhibit work while the AHF raised money and constructed the building. The foundation manages retail, catering and events and the Army operates the museum.

“The museum is stunning, and it is an honor to present this history in a way that shows the connection between the American Soldier, the U.S. Army and the nation,” said the museum’s director, Ms. Tammy E. Call. The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges to the health and safety of visitors. To mitigate this free, timed-entry tickets are required and not walk-up tickets are available. “We have worked hard to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors, and we are excited to open the doors of this long-awaited national museum,” added Call.

The museum covers over 245 years of Army history and highlights soldiers from the past, present and future from the Regulars Army, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. “The Army is people. They are our greatest strength and our most important weapon system,” said the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James C. McConville. “The National Museum of the United States Army is designed to tell the compelling and heroic stories of our people and take visitors on an exciting journey through the history of the U.S. Army as told through the American Soldiers’ point of view.”

Photo Credit: Marguerite Cleveland

Exhibits

The museum has a wide variety of state-of-the-art exhibits. One of the first you encounter is the Soldiers’ Stories. It is a grouping of freestanding pylons with a soldier’s etched image and their biography. They are lined up in a formation and begin in the museum’s exterior to the entryway, into the lobby and end at the Army Concourse. The exhibit really highlights the diversity in the U.S. Army and shows both male and female soldiers and of different races. Other exhibits are based around various conflicts. Colonial Warfare covers the historical period from 1607-1835. It explores the forming of the Continental Army, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Army becoming a professional force.

In addition to the permanent exhibits the museum has space for temporary exhibitions. The Two Front War is a temporary exhibit and shares the rarely told story of Japanese American Nisei Soldiers during World War II. This history highlights the struggle of the Nisei and their courage. Highlights include receiving the Congressional Gold Medal as recognition of their service.

The museum’s Welcome Desk has a limited supply of audio tours. Bring your own personal headphones to use (standard headphone jack wireless not compatible) or use the museum’s which are sanitized after each use. The audio tours are free.

Museum Cafe

There is so much to see and do at the museum you may want to take a break. The Museum Café has a variety of options. During COVID-19 all tables are set six feet apart and a self-service contactless transactions option is available. The café is open 8 am to 3pm and you can preorder your food with a  quick access app.

Army Action Center

For more interactive fun check out the Army Action Center: Virtual Reality and Motion Theater Experiences. It is currently open during the visitor day and offers a variety of experiences. Allow plenty of time for COVID-19 measures and special cleaning. The three experiences are:

Holdout! Bunker Defense VR

Up to four people at a time can participate in the HoldOut! Bunker Defense VR Arena. Don high-tech head-mounted VR goggles with simulated rifles which give a realistic recoil as you fire at your targets. The thrill increases with 4D effects such as floor vibrations and wind which simulates battlefield conditions. Compete with others as you take out artificial intelligent (AI) enemies.

Tank Commander Virtual Reality Transporter

Jump on the elevated motion platform and don electronic 3D goggles to feel like you a commanding a World War II Sherman Tank. Order your massive 75-millimeter gun to fire on enemy vehicles and gun nests. Collaborate with other tank commanders to advance your positions.

Wingwalker VR Adventures of an Air Show Stuntwoman

Simulate riding on the wing of a vintage ex-Army 1943 Boeing Super Stearman biplane. Watch a daring stuntwoman wing walk and show off for the air show crowd while you hang on as the plane dips and turns.

Army Action Pod Simulator

You can experience over 110 years of aviation history in this simulator which takes you from the birthplace of flight at Kitty Hawk to modern day jets. Learn about daring first flights, aviation’s golden age of air racing, the Tuskegee Airmen and much more.

Capture Your Visit

Remember your visit with a purchase from the Museum Store with a variety of Army themed merchandise and books. Make sure to visit the photo kiosk provided by Foto ATM. Print smartphone photos or personalize your images for social media.

The National Museum of the United States Army is open everyday except December 25 from 9 am to 5 pm.

Commissaries continue delivering benefit while prioritizing safety of customers, employees

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Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        96-20                                                                                                                        

Date:                              December 7, 2020

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Commissaries continue delivering benefit while prioritizing safety of customers, employees

during COVID-19 pandemic

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – Amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the Defense Commissary Agency is reassuring its customers and employees that their health and welfare is the commissaries’ top priority.

“We exist to enrich our customers’ quality of life by providing significant savings on their groceries, and they can rest assured that we will do so safely and efficiently,” said William F. Moore, DeCA director.

“As we deliver the commissary benefit, the safety of our valued customers and dedicated employees remains our No. 1 priority especially during this unprecedented time,” he added. “We continue to follow strict DOD health protection in our stores, specifically regarding sanitary measures, face coverings and social distancing.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, DeCA has implemented the following measures to help mitigate the spread of the virus in commissaries:

  • Commissaries conduct daily health screenings of anyone who works in commissaries – including employees, baggers and affiliated contractors – before they start their shifts
  • Anyone (including customers) entering a store must wear a face covering
  • Stores have clear plastic sneeze shields in all regular checkout lanes
  • Commissary personnel wipe down checkout areas, product display cases, restrooms and shopping carts with disinfectant, and practice routine hand washing and other basic sanitation measures
  • Touchless credit card processing eliminates the need for the customer to sign
  • Customers scan their own ID cards so cashiers can provide them touchless transactions
  • Reusable bag usage has been banned
  • DeCA canceled special events such as the spring sidewalk sales, in-store product demonstrations (including DeCA’s free coffee program), group tours, vendor-sponsored events and other events to discourage group gatherings
  • Commissaries are working with installation leadership and public health personnel to implement risk reduction practices specific to that base.

From a product availability standpoint, DeCA continues to work with its industry suppliers to increase deliveries to commissaries where the need is greatest – especially overseas – to ensure product availability, particularly on items that are in high demand like liquid sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and toilet paper.

Store directors have the flexibility to determine item limitations based on supplier availability and customer demand. These actions help stores control stock outs and panic buying, Moore said.

“At this time, when the industry-wide grocery logistics system is being stressed, we want our customers to know we are aggressively partnering with the supplier community to fix any shortages and ensure our military patrons have shelves full of what they need over the holidays,” he said. “There is no need for panic buying. If they happen to see empty shelves in the store, we ask them to please be patient – the store will be restocked often the very next day.” 

Customers should continue to refer to DeCA’s Coronavirus page  for updates related to commissaries. For overall updates and guidance regarding this virus, they are encouraged to access the following websites: the federal government’s response to COVID-19 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Coronavirus site.

-DeCA-

Rapid COVID-19 Testing Required for Patriot Express Travel at BWI and SEATAC Airports

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If you are PCSing to an OCONUS location outside of the United States you will most likely fly on board the Patriot Express. The Department of Defense (DoD) announced it will begin rapid, on-site COVID-19 testing for passengers departing Baltimore Washington International Airport and Seattle Tacoma Airport. The testing is done to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and meet requirements of the various countries.

All passengers on the Patriot Express are currently screened for COVID-19 symptoms through a travel questionnaire and temperature checks. As of November 1, 2020, once screened, 10-15 % of those with no symptoms will be administered a rapid, on-site COVID-19 test.

“By implementing rapid, on-site testing for Patriot Express passengers at our BWI and SEATAC terminals, Air Mobility Command is establishing a common baseline across the services to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Brig. Gen. Norman West, Air Mobility Command Surgeon General. “Through our Total Force team, AMC is committed to doing everything in our power to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among our Patriot Express passengers traveling to overseas locations.”

The 10-15 percent of passengers without symptoms selected to be tested will include only one person from a party traveling together. If the passenger tests positive and is traveling with anyone else, the entire party will be referred to a service liaison to set up additional medical care and lodging for the prescribed quarantine. If you have a valid COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your flight you will not be required to take another test. Those with an authorized medical clearance letter are also exempt from testing.

For those selected for a rapid test, military medical personnel will administer an FDA-approved Abbott ID NOW test. The test sample will be analyzed with on-site laboratory equipment and results will be available in about 15 minutes. Results are added into your health records.

If you text positive you will be sent to a medical facility for treatment if you are showing any symptoms or to lodging to begin a quarantine of 10 days if traveling alone. Those traveling together will have a 14-day quarantine with separate rooms to minimize transmission. DoD contractors must contact their employers for guidance. If you are traveling from BWI your medical care, travel and on-base lodging your logistical support will come from Dover Air Force Base. From SEATAC, support will come from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

If you are on a PCS move you will receive the full flat-rate per diem to include the cost of a second room for families to minimize out of pocket costs. For those deploying it will be the full local per diem rate. Travel orders will be adjusted to include the quarantine period.

Medical personnel will check on those in isolation periodically and passengers must be medically cleared before resuming travel. You will not be required to take another test following your quarantine.

Check with your military service for specific COVID-19 guidelines. This will also be available on the AMC Travel Page which will have the latest information about travel during COVID-19. Regardless of service, all military personnel, DoD civilian employees, family members, DoD Contractors, and non-DoD U.S. government personnel entering a DoD passenger facility are required to wear an appropriate cloth face covering, according to an April 2020 U.S. Transportation Command directive.

For additional site-specific information, travelers should contact their aerial port of embarkation.

Baltimore Washington International Airport 
AMC BWI Passenger Gateway Terminal – www.facebook.com/AMCBWIPassengerGateway/
Commercial – (609) 253-8825
DSN – (312) 568-8825

Seattle Tacoma International Airport
Seattle AMC Gateway – https://www.facebook.com/seattleamcpassengerterminal
Commercial – (253) 982-3504 or (253) 982-0555
DSN – (312) 382-3504 or (312) 382-0555

Visit Our National Parks for Free – New Access Program for Gold Star Families and U.S. Military Veterans

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By Marguerite Cleveland

On Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2020, the National Park Service partnered with Operation Live Well launched a free access program as a way to thank America’s Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans for their service and to encourage healthy living by enjoying our nation’s public lands and waters. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt signed an order that grants free access to national parks, wildlife refuges, and other sites managed by the Department of the Interior. It also includes lands and waters managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is more than 2,000 sites. Active duty military and their families will continue to have access through the America the Beautiful Pass system currently in place.

Eligibility

A veteran is an individual who served in the U.S. Armed Forces including the National Guard and Reserves. You must have one of the following forms of identification: Department of Defense Identification Card (CAC Card), Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC), Veteran ID Card, or a Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card.

Gold Star Families are the next of kin of a service member of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost his or her life during a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States. The Gold Star Family members access the parks by presenting a voucher to the ranger or place in the vehicle dashboard at unstaffed site. Download the voucher.

Both veterans and Gold Star Families access includes traveling companions who travel in one vehicle or if individual fees are charged it includes the passholder and three people.

What is Covered

There is no cost to participate in the program. Participants receive free entrance fees at national parks, wildlife refuges as well as free day use fees at national forests, grasslands and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Camping, tours, special permits or concession-operated facilities such as lodging or food venders and activities such as horseback riding are not covered by this program.

The program will continue indefinitely unless the order is amended or revoked.

To make the most out of your passes visit the National Park Service online. They have devoted a whole section on the American Military . There are so many interesting features:

Did you know there are over 400 national park sites located near VA facilities? Check out the interactive map and find your VA destination. Each location lists information on nearby parks and links to the websites.

Are you a military history buff? Check out American Military Heritage . The National Park Service preserves battlefields, military parks and historic sites around the country.

The National Park Service is benefiting from the Veterans Trade and Apprenticeship Program which trains veterans to learn preservation trades. It gives them the opportunity to continue to serve their country by serving and preserving national parks.

Did you know you receive a veteran’s preference if you want to work for the National Park Service? They employ over 4,000 veterans which is more than 20% of the workforce.

The holidays are a great time to get out and explore a national park and with free admission for Gold Star Families and veterans you can visit more than one.

Use the MWR and MCCS as Resources for Holiday Fun Complete with Social Distancing

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While it seems that the Grinch has taken over holiday celebrations this year, canceling the holidays all together cannot happen. Across the U.S. outdoor celebrations are continuing.

At Army Base Fort Hood, the holiday tradition of Nature in Lights at the BLORA Ranch, a five and a half mile holiday lights attraction will continue from November 13, 2020 – January 3, 2021.

Cost:

  • Car, Mini-van, and Truck: $20
  • Limos, 15-Passenger Vans and RVs: $35
  • 24-Passenger Van: $55
  • 47-Passenger Van or Bus:  $80

Navy Base Little Creek’s MWR Fitness is continuing their Reinder Run 5k complete with wearing holiday attire! Registration can be completed by December 4th. The run is completed outdoors and masks must be worn if cannot maintain 6 feet of social distance.

Navy MWR is hosting two virtual events in December. The Virtual Scavenger Hunt and Virtual Murder Mystery will be completed on Zoom. Because they are virtual, the event is open to all authorized Navy MWR Patrons after 18 and older or at least 17 years old and on active duty at any base.

Portsmouth MWR is hosting a virtual Gingerbread House contest. All the supplies to build the gingerbread house are available at the River’s Edge Recreation are available for pickup, or create with supplies at home. All pictures of the creation are submitted to their Facebook messenger. Planning ahead to New Years’, they are also planning a Happy Noon’s Year Eve. Who wants to stay up late when you can celebrate early and have an early bedtime! Yes!

MCCS Camp Pendleton is creating a drive-through Winter Fest Express. The drive through includes a free Tree from Trees for Troops, a holiday treat, children’s gifts, and a holiday box. Two additional events of Santa Cruise where you can do a “drive-by” visit with Santa and Mrs. Clause.

Navy MWR Bahrain has a host of activities to celebrate the holidays while maintaining social distance. A drive-in holiday movie, drive-through Winter Wonderland, a Command Tree Decorating Contest, and online-hosted holiday bingo series. These creative activities allow for families or quarun-teams to celebrate in their own cars or homes while still promoting community holiday spirit which can be challenging when stationed far away from loved ones.

S’mores Holiday Fun at MCCS Lejeune has plans for a scavenger hunt and s’mores over a firepit for each family allowing for appropriate social distance while enjoying the outdoors and an outdoor visit with Santa, holiday cheer, and ooey-gooey s’mores.

In true New Orleans fashion, the holiday in December is the time to plan (via Zoom meetings and online groups) the continuation of the Mardi Gras season. In lieu of parades, this year families are asked to decorate their house as a float – yup House Floats! And in lieu of throwing beads, face masks are being thrown – from a distance or down a shoot to follow social distancing rules. Can’t keep that NOLA spirit down!

Christmas Tree lightings around the world are being hosted by MCCS and MWR and streamed on social media so everyone can enjoy them from a safe distance. Check out your bases’ social media pages to what they are doing. Even if you don’t watch it “Live,” the beauty of streaming is that you can watch it whenever is convenient for you or your family.

Whatever, wherever, and however you celebrate the season, have a healthy and safe holiday season!

What is your base doing to support the holidays this season? Let us know so we can share it!

9 Organizations that Support Military Families During the Holidays

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The holiday time can be a difficult time for military families. It can be a time spent apart from families due to deployment. Even when the military service member is stateside, it doesn’t mean families can travel back home as it can be expensive, and use precious leave. In 2020, traveling is not recommended due to the requirement of quarantine prior to travel and returning home. Creating that sense of holiday in any year can be emotionally taxing, and in 2020 it is even more so. There are many organizations that plan throughout the year to support military families, and this year is no different. If your family or someone you know would love a tree, food, or holiday spirit, check out these organizations.

Trees for Troops

Trees for Troops has been operating for over 15 years delivering live Christmas trees to military bases across the United States for military families to pick up for FREE. All the trees are donated by farms, nurseries, or individuals across America who want to demonstrate their support of military families with this gift of appreciation. The organization is planning delivery to 79 bases from November 30th to December 11th. Check to see if your base is on the list here.

Operation Homefront Holiday Meals

The tradition of a holiday meal in November and December is a common practice across America. For some military families, the expense of such a large meal is not something that can be accommodated in the budget. And quite honestly, if a military family is going through a deployment during the holidays it is emotionally taxing as well. Through partnerships with local businesses, Operation Homefront has been able to provide Holiday Meals for military families. Meal pick-up times and locations are pre-arranged and registration is required. Eligibility is extended for E1-E6 active duty military families and post 9-11 wounded, ill, or injured service members of any rank even if no longer serving on active duty. Registration is open by searching for the location nearest you here.

Operation Holiday Joy – ASYMCA

The Armed Services YMCA organization is committed to supporting active-duty military families throughout the year, and the holiday season is no different. Operation Holiday Joy provides food baskets to military families and toys to military children every year. Look up your local branch for registration details and pick up times.

If you want to donate to the program, they are always accepting donations here.

Operation Christmas Spirit

A part of the Operation Help a Hero program in California, Operation Christmas Spirit adopts military families to provide them gifts for Christmas. The entire family is adopted and through donations provided toys, gas and grocery gift cards, and much more. The goal of the organization is to provide support to any active duty military family who is concerned about providing Christmas presents to their children.

If you are an active duty or Gold Star family in need of assistance or know someone who is, click this link here. While some locations are full, many locations are not. To be an eligible active-duty family, families must be E5 or below, any rank with 4+ children, any rank with a justification of a need, or families with a legitimate need for assistance. Gold Star families with children age 17 and under, Gold Star spouses, or guardians of Gold Star children are eligible to apply.

Full Circle Home

Full Circle Home is an organization that helps deployed troops send reminders of their love home to their loved ones. Since the organization’s start in 2007, Full Circle Home has helped over 21,000 troops send holiday wishes to their family members at home. Being the military family member at home during the holidays is emotionally and mentally challenging, and this year it is even more so. If you are a deployed service member and want to send a gift home, sign up here to complete the registration form. Currently, gifts sent are for adult women only – so military members can send gifts to their mother, adult female family member, or spouse. The gifts are chosen for the service member and the service member writes a love note on the registration form.

If you know someone who wants to donate to help with this mission, check out the donate page here.

Soldiers Angels Adopt a Family

Soldiers Angels’ Adopt a Family program is open for families of deployed service members, post 9-11 wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans and their families or veteran families enrolled in the HUD/VASH program. The deployed service member must be E1-E6 rank, not be scheduled to return from deployment prior to December 25th, and must demonstrate financial need. Further details on eligibility read here. To register to be adopted, click here. If adopted, the team will ask for details of what is on the children’s wish list to provide gifts for the children and the grocery store for a grocery gift card.

If you know someone who wants to donate to help support the Adopt A Family program, the volunteer time link is here.

Wreaths Across America

Saturday, December 19th is National Wreaths Across America this year. Meaning, you can sign up to volunteer at any of the 2100 cemeteries for wreath-laying across the United States and abroad. This amazing effort to let no fallen service member be forgotten cannot be completed without donated time, funds, and sponsored wreaths. You can sponsor a hand-crafted all-American balsam wreath to be laid at this event in honor of a family member or friend. In addition to sponsorship, wreaths can be purchased as gifts with service-specific flags on them. For every wreath purchased, a wreath is sponsored. The non-profit runs with a small staff, and thousands of volunteers every year. The volunteer number often grows to the millions on the wreath-laying day. While initially the wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery was canceled, there is still a plan for the wreath-laying to occur on the 19th in person with a small group and will be streamed virtually.

Toys for Tots

The U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program provides new, unwrapped toys to children in need. The deadline to request a toy varies per the location so make sure to click the link to learn more about the Toys for Tots Campaign nearest you.

Donations of toys can be completed in person at drop off locations or online with their virtual drop box.

Meals and Programming from the USO

Since 1941, the USO has been supporting service members as they prepare for deployment and while serving overseas. The organization continues support overseas by bringing holiday meals to those deployed or living overseas, and they also provide Turkeys for Troops or holidays meals at each of their 250+ locations worldwide. Check your local USO to see what programs they are providing this holiday season.

The holiday season can be a difficult period in a normal year for those military family members deployed or far from family. It can be an expensive time of year that challenges the family finances and these organizations desire to demonstrate support and care to military families during this time of year. Share with anyone you know who would be interested in learning or sharing these programs!

The 8 Cookie Recipes You Should Try This Season

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While the 2020 Holiday calendar won’t be full of holiday parties, it doesn’t mean you can’t try some new holiday treats at home. We dug through the Military Shoppers Recipe Archive for some unique and fun recipes to try with test in your kitchen.

Peanut Butter Lover Cookies – Mix the three ingredients of peanut butter, sugar and an egg for this fun drop cookies you can make when you want a quick sweet treat or want to do something with your kids with minimal dishes.

Gingerbread – A classic holiday cookie filled with the holiday spices of cinnamon, allspice, clove and ginger. This recipe is perfect for cookie making and building houses for those cookies to “live in” until they are eaten of course. The gingerbread dough also makes for excellent ornament making

Eggnog Kringla – Another cookie filled with the season’s flavors using 4 cups of egg nog and nutmeg to this chilled dough. Shape the cookies into fun holiday shapes or a pretzel-like shape. The light Scandanvian cookie is a lovely holiday cookie that is perfect cookie for a holiday

Lebkuchen –  Lebkuchen is a cake cookie that is often enjoyed as part of the German holiday celebrations. This spiced cookie from the European continent is filled with ginger, cinnamon, allspice, anise, mace, cloves and cardamom. The spices will coat your kitchen with the holiday aroma before your first bite.

Crushed Candy Cane Cookies – Peppermint. The smell and taste brings the warmth and sweet flavors of the holiday. The two sugars of white sugar and brown sugar make a sweet dough that is perfect to roll in the crushed peppermints and then baked.

Ugly Cookies – While the name may remark on the look of these cookies, the taste is amazing. They are filled with the good stuff – semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch, heath bits and almond slivers.

Cinnamon Stars – These cookies are made from egg white, ground almonds, confectioners sugar and cinnamon are gorgeous to look at. They do take time with an overnight drying before baking them, so plan accordingly. These make for beautiful gifts and holiday treats.

Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cookies – Peppermint and chocolate are two holiday flavors that belong together. Crumble peppermint onto these warm chocolate brownie cookies and the peppermint pieces melt ever so slightly for an amazing chocolatey holiday treat.

Bon appetit!