Reaching out to those who've served: BOSS joins Gold Star Wives to bring holiday cheer to Arme

Fort Belvoir’s Better Opportunities for Single Service members and the Gold Star Wives of America joined forces on Saturday to deliver holiday cheer to the residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C.

“Whatever we give them, they always appreciate it,” said Mary Boone, Gold Star Wives member. “It’s always good to have a warm body show up.”

The Gold Star Wives deliver a variety of care packages to the AFRH once every three months throughout the year.

“It means a lot to the guys,” said Joyce Karas, a gold star wife. “They call us the golden girls.”

For this visit they enlisted the help of Fort Belvoir BOSS President Air Force Staff Sgt. Desiree Lee and Fort Belvoir’s Directorate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation to help pick up the care packages and deliver them to individuals in the retirement community before the holiday season.

“Its part of our charter,” Lee said. “We’re supposed to give back to our community.”
The care packages contained a variety of products including warm winter clothing, holiday cards, various toiletries and socks.

“I’ve never had anything so nice before,” said Ronald Rhodes, 81, resident, who received a shirt, socks, and after shave lotion.

Prior to their arrival on Saturday the Gold Star Wives asked the retirement home employees for a list of residents that do not receive many visitors.

The volunteers made sure to pay special attention to these people by having conversations and hand delivering each package.

“It’s such a seemingly innocent gesture, but it really means a lot to us,” said Guillermo Ceniceros, who spent 28 years in the Air Force and received a shirt and toothpaste.

Santa and Ms. Claus also visited the home and delivered candy and homemade cookies to the residents.

Ceniceros had a picture of himself and Santa from the previous year and requested another for this year.

The Gold Star Wives generate the funds to pay for the care packages with sales during the Belvoir Officer’s Wives Club monthly luncheons. They sell hand-painted cards and prints and use the proceeds to buy items at the Post Exchange at a discounted price.

“I could always use things like this,” said William Montgomery, 81, resident, who received after shave lotion, a shirt and toothpaste.