Troops enjoy Christmas party


Thursday, December 18, 2008
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Troops enjoy Christmas party

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photos by Sue Watson

Christmas party
Members of Detachment 1 pose for a Christmas photo at the National Guard Armory, Holly Springs


Left, Haleigh Jamison colors a picture; right, Spc. Lorence Strange gives a ride to son Jayde

Members of Detachment 1, Company A, 2/198 Combat Arms Batallion were given Christmas with all the trimmings December 7 at the National Guard Armory in Holly Springs.

About 40 military troops and their loved ones were fed a delicious turkey and dressing dinner prepared by Sheriff Kenny Dickerson and his staff. Ronnie and Brenda Luther with the Clydesdale Christmas Store footed the bill and numbers of volunteers, including the men and women of the Collins-Hurdle VFW Post 5697, helped serve lunch.

Captain James A. Clark and Commander John Beasley with the 198th CAB were in attendance, along with Holly Springs Mayor Andre’ DeBerry, Santa, the Memphis Redbird, and David Breithaupt, who assisted children with table games.

The 2-198th CAB is expected to deploy to Iraq sometime in the spring of 2009. After lunch Santa was dropped in by helicopter, piloted by Chuck Thomas; and after listening to children’s Christmas wishes and handing out gifts, Santa was whisked back north by helicopter to the North Pole to get toys and gifts ready for delivery to all the kids of the world by December 25.

Contributions to the early Christmas send-off of troops came from:

Barnes and Noble in Tupelo - 50 books
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Olive Branch - 50 coloring books and crayons.
Rental Supply Company, Bartlett, TN - 10 gift cards to Walmart.
Lifeway Christian Book Store, Southaven - a CD doorprize.
Olive Branch Chick-fil-A - stuffed toy cows and coupons.
Walgreens, Southaven and Olive Branch Shriner Club - candy.
Malco, Southaven - four movie passes.
Grand Event Tents - 20 tablecloths and fish bowl table decorations.
Redbirds - waived the $100 deposit on tickets.
Southaven Police Department - paid for Santa’s trip.
April Parvin - 50 homemade snowflake ornaments for the children.
Impact Missions, Southaven - toys.
State Farm Insurance, Memphis - $50.
Jimmy's Auto Paint, Olive Branch - $50.
Olive Branch Wal-Mart - $25 gift cards.
Ronnie and Brenda Luther/Clydesdale Christmas Store - dinner.
Bill Janssen and VFW - volunteer servers.
Kenny Dickerson - supplied material and labor to paint the armory and prepared dinner for a group of about 150. Sheriff’s staff helped prepare and serve dinner.

Keygan Martin visits with Santa Claus.

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