Eglin celebrates littlest heroes

  • Published
  • By Minty Knighton
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eglin's littlest heroes were recognized March 26, at the Enlisted Hall as part of the Children's Home Front Heroes program.

More than 50 sons and daughters of deployed Eglin members were honored for keeping morale in the family while they wait for their parents to return.

Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Westermeyer, 96 Air Base Wing and the Air Armament Center command chief, and Col. Charles Greenwald, acting vice commander for the AAC, crouched to eye level to present medals of "honor" to the boys and girls.

"It's important to recognize the children," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Baucom, program coordinator. "Deployments can put pressures on families and this is a way to let children know they aren't forgotten."

The children were recognized for varying tasks during their parents' deployment. Some took on chores, some worked hard to bring up their grades, and others were wingmen for their younger brothers and sisters.

When Capt. David Welch of the 96th Medical Group deployed to Iraq, 10-year-old Madison became the "mini-mom" of the family. Madison had to help out with her four and two-year-old siblings.

"I had just found out I was pregnant," said Anna Welch, Madison's mom. "I was extremely sick and had heart trouble. Madison stepped up a lot."

"Sometimes I felt I was the only one who knew he was coming back," said Madison about her father.

Maj. Rebecca Rosa from the 96th MDG is currently deployed. Her 10-year-old daughter Isabella had a more difficult transition when her mother deployed leaving her with her dad, a Navy reservist, her 16-year-old brother and her 19-month-old brother.

"She cried a lot at first," said Mario Rosa, Isabella's dad. "Then we thought of the idea of putting candies in a jar. I put the number of days my wife would be gone in the jar and let Isabella take one candy a day so she can kind of see when her mom would return. It helped."

More and more spouses are finding creative ways to comfort their young children. Now so is Eglin.

"So many times moms and dads deploy and we consider them the heroes," said Chief Westermeyer. "I think it's befitting to recognize them [children] because often they are left out."

Eglin is planning to recognize these deserving children quarterly.