Airmen volunteer at veterans home

by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

4/3/2013 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airmen from Whiteman Air Force Base collaborated with volunteer groups from the local community to make the Missouri Veterans' Home's second annual Easter Egg Hunt and family celebration in Warrensburg, Mo., March 30 a success.

The event was organized to boost morale among veterans and their families, said Melissa Wilson, Missouri Veterans Home director of recreation therapy.

"I think the event turned out great," said Tech. Sgt. Duane Edington, 442nd Maintenance Squadron NCO in charge of munition support equipment maintenance. "We had some good volunteers and the children had a great time. You could see it in their eyes when they were running around looking for eggs."

Edington was one of more than 70 volunteers from Whiteman Air Force Base who attended the event. More than 200 children from the Warrensburg area also participated.

"I know that the veterans are so happy when their families and loved ones do come here," said Wilson. "But I also know that it's important for the families to see their veteran loved ones here having a good time and being in such a wonderful environment."

Since the day's heavy rain did not allow the event to be held outside, the veterans and volunteers who attended the event hid more than 1,800 eggs throughout the interior of the veterans home.

"We have a wonderful volunteer coordinator who sends out volunteer requests to Whiteman and we got an overwhelming response, as always," Wilson said. "They are just so supportive of us."

Edington said having the children and volunteers showing up to speak with the veterans contributed to the positive turn out of the egg hunt.

"The event was important to the veterans and their families," said "Many times there aren't positive experiences at nursing homes or veterans homes, so it's really important that we create opportunities for veterans and their loved ones to make memories."

The veterans home's recreation and therapy department was directly in charge of sponsoring the event. Wilson came up with the idea for the annual egg hunt last year.

"My team and I, work amazingly well together," Wilson said. "We get these ideas for events like the egg hunt, we go with them and we make them bigger and better every year."

As keeping the veterans happy is the goal of staff members, the egg hunt would not have been successful without the livelihood from the veterans, said Wilson.

"The veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and they are why we have such a wonderful support system from our community and the surrounding areas," Wilson said.

Overall, having veterans, community members and Airmen working together for a mutual cause has benefits on both the civilian and military sides, said Edington.

"You want the community to see what the military does and you want the military to see what the community has to offer," Edington said. "Having Airmen and community members in that close proximity helps everybody out in the long run."