New Year new you: Airmen share their family traditions

Published Dec. 29, 2017
By By Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- When the old Roman calendar fell out of sync with the sun, an emperor named Julius Ceaser made some changes that we know today. And as a part of his reform Caesar established January 1 as the first day of the New Year.

Fast-forward to the world as we know it, many family and friends have long-rooted traditions as they ring in the New Year and celebrate with the ones they love.

One commander celebrates surrounded by friends and family.

“My wife and I get together with friends every New Year’s Eve and have a small-low key celebration,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Kerrigan, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. “We keep it simple, safe and stay away from the craziness of the parties in Milwaukee.

“We have a safe time and make sure everyone gets home,” Kerrigan added.

Holiday’s like these give many busy Airman a chance for closeness and to be with the ones they love, a common pattern with many busy American’s.

“Any excuse to get together with family and enjoy the company of the people we love - that’s what it’s all about for us,” said Chief Master Sgt. Wes Marion, 434th Air Refueling Wing command chief.

Many Airmen also use the occasion to get together watch college football and reflect positive changes for the up-coming year.

“We get together with a group of friends at my house and watch college football and then watch New Year’s Eve celebrations from time square and watch the ball drop,” said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Huff, 434th Force Support Squadron airman and family readiness technician. We reminisce about the good things from the past year, and then we all talk about the good things that we are going to be doing in the coming year.

“We don’t do resolutions, why wait until the next year to make positive changes,” he said. “But we do talk about how we want to make a positive change in someone else’s life.”

Reflecting back to his youth, one Grissomite recalls the nostalgia of New Year’s Eve and a little bubbly.

“When I was growing up, on New Year’s Eve the family just hung out and helped my mom clean up the house,” said Senior Airman Mathew Kaim, 434th FSS force management supervisor. “We would have a lot of our friends over and drink sparkling grape juice and then watch the ball drop.

“New year’s day for us is a day to relax and reflect on what our goals are for the New Year and get a head start on things,” he added.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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Happy New Year

New Year new you: Airmen share their family traditions

Public Affairs Staff