Dover AFB spouses honored at community luncheon

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Dover Century Club honored Dover Air Force Base military spouses during their 112th Anniversary Celebration luncheon Nov. 18 at the Maple Dale Country Club in Dover.

Amy Bright, spouse of the deployed 512th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Randal L. Bright, was the guest speaker at the event, themed "Hats Off to Military Spouses."

Comments were also made by Col. Michael T. Fitzhenry, 512th AW vice commander, Master Sgt. Laura Coseglia, 512th Airman and Family Readiness director, and State Senator Darryl Scott, who, on behalf of the Delaware House of Representatives, presented a proclamation in honor and appreciation of military spouses.

"This is a special event today," said Mary Emma Tisinger, president of the Dover Century Club, an all women's non-profit organization dedicated to serving the community. "Not only are we celebrating 112 years of existence as a club, but today we have the opportunity to pay tribute to some very deserving individuals, our military spouses. Not only are we taking our hats off, saluting and paying respect to the ... military spouses at Dover AFB but to military spouses all over the world."

After lunch, Mrs. Bright addressed the crowd of 90 women. She talked about some of the wing's ongoing programs aimed at taking care of Airmen and their families. She highlighted her role in the 512th AW Key Spouse Program, an all volunteer spouses' organization that provides outreach and support services to family members of deployed reservists. To accomplish their mission, the organization works closely with 512th A & FR. This agency provides individuals, families, and wing leadership with programs to equip military members and their families with the skills needed to deal with the unique demands of military life.

"Our main objective is to ensure the family is physically and emotionally ready for a deployment," said Mrs. Bright. "We do our best to ensure military families are taken care of throughout the whole deployment cycle."

She said this can be a challenge as the wing has 1,800 reservists, with 1,000 of those spouses residing in 36 states. Currently, about 60 reservists are deployed, she said.

The luncheon is not the only manner in which the Dover Century Club has shown its support of the base. Last year, Ms. Tisinger approached Sergeant Coseglia and inquired how the club could assist Dover Airmen.

"They recognized that military families might be in need of support during the deployment cycle and at other times throughout the year," said Sergeant Coseglia. "They just wanted to help in any way they could, and they have. They've done everything from serving meals to returning Airmen and sewing baby blankets for the Bundles for Babies program to collecting items for our care packages and putting together the spouse appreciation luncheon. They have been a great advocate for us and our families."

Mrs. Bright thanked the club for their time, donations and assistance with family readiness projects and events, as well as for the luncheon.

The event concluded with a recognition event where Colonel Fitzhenry handed out certificates to nine military spouses of deployed members and thanked them their support, sacrifice and service.