Activity night brings survivors together

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tammie Ramsouer
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Families of fallen military members participated in the 3rd annual Family Activity Night at Otter Lake Boat House on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Sept. 11.

The Survivor Outreach Services on JBER hosted the event to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and bring together those left behind. About 29 family members attended.

The night featured hamburgers, hot dogs and grilled salmon, along with homemade dishes and desserts provided by participants. A bagpiper, Tony Barrett, began the event with traditional pipes to honor Sept. 11 victims and the fallen heroes of the families

present. During dinner, and throughout the event, the Anna Lynch Band played live music. The musicians performed free of charge.

The SOS hosts events to help families recover from traumatic experiences, ensure them their loss is valued and remembered, and to remind them that they are not alone.

The program started in 2008 and went worldwide in 2009.

"Events such as the Family Activity Night provide our fallen heroes' families with an opportunity to meet with one another," said Valerie O'Hare, SOS coordinator. O'Hare

said the event was focused on establishing connections between families.

The event was timely for at least one participant.

Elizabeth Beens' husband, a retired Army Reserve colonel, died of cancer three years ago in September - the month they would have celebrated 40 years of marriage.

She had no idea how quickly the disease would claim her husband. They got the diagnosis in January. He was gone eight months later.

"Every year on the day he passed, Sept. 7, 2010, I dread it so very much and it brings back so many painful memories," Beens said. "When my husband passed ... SOS helped

me with my grieving and helped me connect with others that have gone through my situation."

"I really appreciate what they do for families," she said.

Families can create a trusting relationship, share feelings and pain, as well as coping strategies. These activities create a way for families to heal from the tragedy of a family member passing away, O'Hare said.

"The main message SOS would like to get out to our military families, because it is still a fairly new Army Family Program, is that SOS is here when our families need us, we are honored to support them in every way possible," O'Hare said.

The SOS is available to support all military families located on JBER.

Those interested in learning more about the program can call O'Hare at 907-384-0272.