Academy children honored as Home Front Heroes

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Heather Stanton
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Academy recognized 14 young heroes in a ceremony Nov. 13.

Home Front Heroes is a recognition ceremony hosted by the Airman and Family Readiness Center for Air Force Academy deployed members' children, to recognize the sacrifices and triumphs of military children during their parent's deployment.

"The Home Front Heroes event is a great opportunity for our deployers to recognize the challenges and successes of their unique and resilient military children," said Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Burton, 10th Force Support Squadron Readiness NCO in charge.

This event is a great way to put a positive-spin on the end of a challenging deployment cycle for their entire family, and remind our children how important they are to the military family and our Air Force's success."

The returning Airmen created a citation for their children that was read to the audience. The award, along with a medal, was presented to each child by Col. Troy Dunn, 10th Air Base Wing commander.

"I think it is great that they are doing this to appreciate (the children) as much as (military members) get appreciated when we get back," said Staff Sgt. Jacob Frey, 10th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, who recently returned from a deployment. "No one really says much about the family, and they do a lot more than what I think I do."

Home Front Heroes is unique to the Academy, according to Burton, but other installations are becoming interested due to the program's positive impact and popularity with families.

This program is one of many offered to families of deployed Airmen through the AFRC.

"We've teamed up with the Exceptional Family Member Program to partner on events like the popular Equestrian Center Hotdog Roast and Hayride in the fall, regular Bowling and Pizza Nights at the Bowling Center, and Deployer Recognition for reintegrated families at the Falcon Football home games," Burton said. "Last year, Air Force rolled out the Recharge for Resiliency program, where we teamed up with our outstanding Outdoor Recreation to offer deployed and reintegrated families free or heavily discounted, rafting trips, and an overnight camp at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, indoor skydiving, and more."

For more information on Home Front heroes or other programs, contact the AFRC at 333-3444.

Congratulations to the following Home Front Heroes:
Elena Amig
Jonathan Amig
Jeremy Farlaino
Riley Frey
Brayden Hendrickson
Easton Hendrickson
Kyler Jacobson
Olivia Jacobson
Matthew Jacobson
Micah Prada
Lilly Sobers
Allison Sobers
Nathan Sobers
Coral Vidal