| |
| |
 |
Air Force Capt. Dennis Spencer, a physician assistant at Joint Task Force-Bravo, plays with a child in the pool during a kids' day at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. More than 50 boys from the Hogar de Ninos Nazareth Orphanage in Comayagua came to the base Aug. 2 for a day of fun and activities.
|
 |
Servicemembers from Soto Cano Air Base play volleyball in the base pool with boys from the Hogar de Ninos Nazareth Orphanage in Comayagua, Honduras. Nearly 60 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen volunteered for the orphanage kids' day Aug. 2 on base.
|
 |
Boys from the Hogar de Ninos Nazareth Orphanage in Comayagua, Honduras, play in the water spray from a Joint Task Force-Bravo fire truck. More than 50 boys from the orphanage came to Soto Cano Air Base Aug. 2 for a day of fun and activities.
|
|
|
Servicemembers volunteer during orphanage kids’ day at Soto Cano
by Tech. Sgt. John Asselin
Joint Task Force-Bravo public affairs
8/6/2008 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- More than 50 boys from the Hogar de Ninos Nazareth Orphanage in Comayagua spent a day of fun here Aug. 2 thanks to the good hearts of members of the Joint Task Force-Bravo community.
Nearly 60 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen volunteered during the day of fun and activities for the boys aged 6-17 years old, sponsored by JTF-Bravo's Medical Element.
"These children have very limited resources and we are blessed to be able provide them with a day of fun and caring," said Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Gary Piorkowski, event organizer and JTF-Bravo dentist deployed from Tyndall AFB, Fla. "In the U.S., we take for granted many simple things that we associate with summertime fun: barbeques; swimming pools; going to a movie theater; playing soccer in a lush green field; running under a water sprinkler getting soaked; going to a parade and seeing HUMVEES and ambulances; going to an air show and seeing a helicopter land and meeting the air crew and having our photos taken. Having a base orphanage day provided a slice of all these fun summertime events and a carefree, fun filled, summer day."
The day of playing and swimming on base wasn't just a fun time for the children, but also enjoyable and rewarding for the volunteers.
"I enjoy being a part of making others happy," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sellars, mental health NCOIC deployed from Ft. Jackson, S.C. "To see a child smile touches my heart. Playing with them releases my inner child. What better way to spend a day."
For others, it was some interaction they miss being away from their families.
"I have kids of my own, and I think that motivates me to do these kinds of things," said Air Force Capt. Dennis Spencer, a physician assistant at MEDEL deployed from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. "No military ulterior motive at all, I just really enjoy giving back to these kids who have very little and appreciate your efforts so much. If my kids were in this situation, I would hope there would be folks out there willing to do these sorts of things for them."
|
|