Spouses work together to feed deployers

Airman 1st Class Kevin Lacy, 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt crew chief, serves himself some food at a barbecue held by Aviano Air Base spouses April 9 at Freedom Park here. Eighty Aviano spouses and three sponsors coordinated a barbecue event for servicemembers deployed to Aviano, offering macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, burgers, chicken and other dishes, including a variety of fresh-baked desserts as an alternative to Meals-Ready-to-Eat and meals prepared at the base dining facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Katherine Windish)

Spouses work together to feed deployers

Published April 19, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Katherine Windish
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Team Aviano military spouses came together April 9 at Freedom Park to provide a home-cooked meal for servicemembers deployed to Aviano in support of Operation Unified Protector.

For the past several weeks, deployed Airmen have been eating Meals-Ready-to-Eat and meals prepared at the base dining facility. The event was an opportunity for them to enjoy a home-cooked meal.

"If this were our husbands living in tents and eating MREs I'd want someone to provide a home-cooked meal for them," said Melissa Williams, an Aviano spouse and event coordinator.

With the help of nearly 80 volunteers and three sponsors, Mrs. Williams put together a barbecue event for the deployed servicemembers, offering macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, burgers, chicken and other dishes, including a variety of fresh-baked desserts.

"The food is great and so are the people who put this together," said Airman 1st Class Kevin Lacy, 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt crew chief deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in support of Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. "I know the rest of the guys appreciated it a lot as well and enjoyed the change of pace."