CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The first Airman's Dinner was held at the Chapel Annex here for Airmen living in the dorms and anyone else who wished to attend Feb. 22.
"Usually I just cook some chicken and rice with brown gravy and call it good," said Airman 1st Class Marcus T. Williams, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulic systems maintenance apprentice. "I haven't had a home-cooked meal since Christmas, and this was great."
Col. Glen Joerger, 437 AW commander, had the idea of having a dinner for Airmen several months ago.
"We just really wanted to give the Airmen who stay in the dorms and eat at the dining facility a chance to enjoy something different," said Chaplain (Capt.) Frank Harris, 437th Airlift Wing chaplain. "Around Thanksgiving was when we first started planning this. However, plans for the dinner just really started coming together a little bit after the New Year."
However, the chaplains didn't accomplish this event by themselves, even though it took several months of planning.
"I told Airmen about this to help get the word out and to see how they reacted to the idea," said Dexter Johnson, protestant young adult coordinator. "Most of the Airmen I talked to liked the idea and seemed very interested."
Flyers were also created by Airmen in the chaplain's office and sent out to several places to be posted, especially in the dormitory areas.
"We weren't expecting the first one to have many people show up," said Chaplain Harris. "After this one though, I think a lot more people will start showing up when the Airmen tell others how good it was."
The Airmen's Dinner is scheduled for the fourth Thursday of every month.
The food was supplied by volunteers from families at the chapel and the 437th Aerial Port Squadron.
The chaplains coordinated with the first sergeants of each squadron for volunteers to prepare food for the dinner. The 437 APS volunteered this month, and there will be a different squadron volunteering each month until every squadron has had a chance, said Chaplain Harris.
There was a variety of food including steak, fried ravioli, potatoes and salad with plenty of home-made desserts to follow the meal.
"I really appreciate all the help we got for this," said Chaplain Harris. "All the food we received was a wonderful way for Team Charleston to say they think about our Airmen and really do appreciate them for what they're doing."