Westover Airmen bring Christmas cheer to Soldiers' Home

Published Dec. 15, 2011
By Lt. Col. James Bishop
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- It was 67 years ago when Pvt. Leon Slanda trudged ashore Omaha Beach during Operation Overlord. "That was a sight you'd never seen in your life," he said. "It looked like there was enough boats to walk back to England across the channel."
Slanda and about 100 other veterans from the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke welcomed men and women from the 337th Airlift Squadron here Dec. 15.
The holiday visit is the fifth annual event at which Air Force
reservists serve snacks and drinks and share conversation with those who served in the armed forces.
"The vets look forward to this every year," said Maggie Feyre, Recreation Director at the Soldiers' Home. "When they speak to a person in uniform, there's immediate camaraderie. It brings back memories for them."
For Slanda, a Northampton resident who had been in the Soldiers' Home just one month, it was a chance to relive a special assignment his company had, escorting legendary war reporter Ernie Pyle. "He was like a real soldier," Slanda said. "He'd move from unit to unit."
Some 24 Airmen from Westover took cookies and drinks to the Soldiers' Home
and spent time with the attendees.
"They look forward to it, and so do we," said TSgt. Ryan Connolly, who has organized the event for the last four years. "We go hoping to make them feel good, and we always end up feeling good as well."