Friends of Veterans host annual ice cream social

Published May 12, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Apryl Hall
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- More than 50 Airmen from the 91st and 791st Missile Security Forces Squadrons volunteered at the annual Friends of Veterans ice cream social in downtown Minot, N.D., May 3, 2013.

For the first time ever, the event took place at two separate locations. The event kicked-off at Trinity Homes, where members of the 791st MSFS served ice cream to the 36 veterans that reside there. Meanwhile, across town, Airmen from the 91st MSFS served the near 30 veterans at Edgewood Vista senior living community.

"It feels great!" said Senior Airman Erica Radcliff, 91st MSFS defender and FoV secretary. "It feels like we're doing something good for the community."

Recently, the volunteer group expanded. After learning that Trinity Homes was bussing over veterans from Edgewood Vista so they could participate in the events, Senior Airman Andrew Magathan, 791st MSFS defender and president of FoV, decided to increase the group's outreach.

While the group used to be comprised of only 791st MSFS Airmen who strictly held events at one nursing home in Minot, they started a new chapter with 91st MSFS Airmen who are solely responsible for events at another retirement community in town. Although the events are held at separate locations with different squadrons, they are still one team.

"We have all the same standards, codes of conduct and expectations," said Staff Sgt. Tyler Brittin, 791st MSFS defender and vice president of FoV. "We are still one organization, we're just branching out."

One major benefit with expanding to Edgewood Vista is the involvement with the residents' families, Radcliff said. As a senior living community, the residents are more mobile and able to have guests visit more freely. This allows the FoV to interact with the community on a larger scale.

"We had a lot of family members come out and we love to see that," Radcliff said. "Then they get to see what we're doing for their parent, grandparent or loved one."

Although being able to interact with the residents' family members is important to them, the FoV are still focused on their mission statement, which is to bridge the gap between the military of yesterday and the military of today.

"It's important for the veterans to feel connected to the military in some way," said Airman 1st Class Jasmine Horton, 91st MSFS defender. "They are so proud to have served, so it's a great feeling to have that bond with them and keep them tied into today's military."

Not only do the Airmen of FoV feel good about what they do, but they also learn from the veteran's life stories, Horton said.

"You never really understand how much you have in common with them other than just being in the military," Horton said. "It makes you realize it's a huge union."

With the new-and-improved FoV in full force, they do not intend on slowing down anytime soon. They want to keep making improvements to the program, reaching as many veterans as they can. A current project in the works is getting the veterans out to the base for a tour. Whether the volunteer group continues to grow or not, the accomplishments they make during each event will not soon be forgotten.

"Our events touch the residents, and they appreciate us coming out," Radcliff said. "It's hard to find words to describe it. Heartwarming. It's just really heartwarming."