Holiday greets team

Erich Schwab (left) observes as Scott Williams sets up a shot with the help of Staff Sgt. Shizuko Shearl as they go through a practice session Sept. 7, 2010, for this year’s holiday greetings program. Both Mr. Schwab and Mr. Williams will be part of the European greetings team that will spend the next five weeks collecting greetings in the U.K., Germany, Italy and Kosovo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Sean Worrell)

Kits help children cope with deployments

Dorothy Choate hands out Cuzzie Cares Deployment Kits at Ramstein Elementary School Dec. 17, 2009, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Cuzzie, designed by Trevor Romain, is an inventive bear that creates flying machines with the help of his ground crew and is the centerpiece of a new kit designed to comfort school-age children during deployments. Ms. Choate is the 86th Services Squadron family member program flight chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brea Miller)

Kits help children cope with deployments

Natalie Zenk, 6, smiles after receiving one of the first Cuzzie Cares Deployment Kits Dec. 17, 2009, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. These kits, designed to comfort school-age children during their parent's deployment, contain journals, stationary, photo albums, countdown calendars, post cards, playing cards, dog tags and a special friend, Cuzzie the Bear. Natalie is the daughter of Capt. Micheal Zenk from the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brittany Perry)

Ellsworth members support Angel Tree program

Children receive presents at the Youth and Family Services child care center Dec. 17, 2009, in Rapid City, S.D. The child care staff provided the names and ages of infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children in their program to 28th Operations Group members from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., who then purchased and wrapped gifts for every child. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Corey Hook)

Ellsworth members support Angel Tree program

A child smiles in excitement as he sees presents, Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Youth and Family Services child care center Dec. 17, 2009, in Rapid City, S.D. This is the third time Santa, Mrs. Claus and Airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., bought, wrapped and delivered gifts for every child at the center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Corey Hook)

Ellsworth members support Angel Tree program

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the Youth and Family Services child care center Dec. 17, 2009, in Rapid City, S.D. Santa, also known as Master Sgt. Cary Loeffler, the 28th Operations Support Squadron aircrew fight equipment assistant superintendent, and his wife began the Angel Tree program at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., by introducing a traveling tree throughout the 28th OSS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Corey Hook)