ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A positive attitude and giving back to their community has earned a Colorado Springs, Colo., family the National Military Family Association's title of 2008 Family of the Year.
Air Force Capt. Alex Gazzaway, his wife, Laura, and their children, Zachary, Parker, Grace, and Cameron, left a significant impression on their most recent duty station, Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass.
Among many other volunteer activities, Gazzaway developed a squadron recreational Web site to strengthen communication among squadron members, their families and newcomers. Laura Gazzaway was the elected vice president of the multi-service Cape Cod Spouses Organization, and was engaged in many basewide charity activities.
"It is challenging to balance work, family and community involvement, but we try to intertwine the kids in everything we do," the captain said. "We consider it a way to give back to the community and create fun family memories. It is rare that we do an activity without the whole family involved."
The couple's children participated in numerous activities such as Base Clean-Up Day, holiday food drives and Cub Scout fundraisers.
The family was honored at a reception here yesterday that included military leaders and association sponsors among the attendees. The family also will receive $1,000 and will have the opportunity to present $500 to a charity of their choice whose work benefits military families.
Each year, the National Military Family Association recognizes outstanding military families through its Family Award program. The award recognizes those families who have made the most of the adventure of military life and conquered its challenges.
The NMFA Family Award is given to 12 families who exemplify the best of the military family lifestyle. Each winning family will receive $500, and one will be chosen as the NMFA Family of the Year.
Winners from the past 12 months include two National Guard families.
Air National Guard TSgt. Wayland Baker's family includes his wife, Jennifer, and six children, Kelcee, Kolten, Krysta, Jhustin, Jhianna and Jhaydann.
Army National Guard Spc. Craig Fricke's family includes his wife, Melissa, and five children, Nathaniel, Samuel, Joel, Raquel and Kelsey.
Jennifer Baker sets the example for her family. As a resident of Warner Robins, Ga., a base town, she could not understand why there were no community projects for the troops. So, she began collecting items on her own.
And after two months, her hard work in the community paid off. The superintendent of the Houston County School District sent out a message, and donations for care packages started coming in from almost every school in the district.
The children had a difficult time during their father's deployment in 2007, but they continued to send packages to the troops. "They have shown me that through the most difficult times, family and your beliefs are what will get you through anything," writes Baker's nominator.
When asked if she missed her husband during deployments, Melissa Fricke said no. "I'll do more, see more and experience more things as a military service wife than most people see, do or experience in a lifetime," she told her nominator.
Melissa said her children respect their father for his service, and they have learned the importance of volunteering their time for others. The Fricke family volunteers with their local Red Cross, the Michigan Guard's family support group and at a local Habitat for Humanity.
"I was truly amazed at how their family plan together hw to suport dad's career and the time they spend as a fmily volunterring to make life a little easier for less fortunate infividuals," writes Cynthia VanderJagt, the nominator.
She said the Fricke family believes that the key to success as a military family is having an open mind.
To nominate a family for the NMFA Family Award, visit the National Military Family Association's Web site at www.nmfa.org.
(From a National Military Family Network news release.)