An Inspiring Visit

An Inspiring Visit

Special Guests Earn their wings at Squadron's holiday party

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew Olay

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 57 invited 15 children from the San Diego chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to the squadron's headquarters on Naval Air Station North Island for a Holiday Salute on Dec. 3.

Now in its third year, the annual event gives seriously ill children and members of their families an opportunity to interact with service members from the Navy and Coast Guard while celebrating the holiday season.

The event began with the Make-A-Wish children and their family members gathering in one of the squadron's upstairs training rooms. While there, both service members and the children's parents shared personal stories about overcoming challenges in the face of adversity.

Following that gathering, the children received their own VR-57 identification badges and then proceeded down to the squadron's hangar bay, where they were able to tour a number of static aircraft and interact with Navy SEALs. Pilots and crewmen were on hand to teach the children about the assorted aircraft, which included a Navy F/A-18 Hornet, a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and a Boeing C-40A transport plane, among others.

"I think for our kids, it's inspiring," Make-A-Wish San Diego president and CEO Chris Sichel said of the event. "They get a break from their treatments, from all of the 'un-fun' things in life. It makes them feel as if they're VIPs, and they get an experience that no one else gets."

As the children took turns touring the various aircraft, watching tactical demonstrations from the Navy SEALS and sitting on Santa's lap after he made a surprise arrival aboard a base fire engine, many of the parents expressed a sense of appreciation for Make-A-Wish and VR-57 teaming up to give the children such an opportunity.

"I think it's good for the kids to meet and talk one-on-one with (the service members) because they see that it's just regular people doing a job that's so important," said Mary Levinson, whose son, Nolan, suffers from autism. "They see behind the scenes of what it means to protect our country. That's important."

Tammy Taylor, another Make-A-Wish mother, said that her son, A.J., had been looking forward to the event all week.

"He was up at 6 o'clock this morning, ready to go," Taylor said of her energetic 5-year-old, whose wish of going on a date with reality television star Khloe Kardashian is scheduled to be fulfilled early next year. Taylor added that she has always taught A.J. about the importance of the Navy and other branches of the armed services because she wants him to know "who's fighting for his freedom."

Just as many of the Make-A-Wish kids and their families appreciated spending time and getting to know the service members present at the VR-57 event, the feeling was likewise amongst those in uniform.

"It puts it all in perspective, seeing the people we're serving for," VR-57's commanding officer, Cmdr. Robert Rascoll, said of the Make-A-Wish children. "To see the kids smile, to see them not think about what they're suffering through and what their challenges are, that's success."

"I didn't realize how touching it would be until (the children) all showed up and started running around and having such a good time despite the problems they have on the outside," said Naval Aircrewman Mechanical 2nd Class Anthony Burger, crew chief for the Navy C-2A Greyhound that was on display for the children.

Burger added that seeing how resilient and optimistic the Make-A-Wish children are in the face of grave illness serves as a strong reminder of what inspires him to serve.

"When you're out there working those 18- to 20-hour days and you're not having the greatest time, you come back and see this. And you're like, 'Yeah, this is who we're doing it for.' "

VR-57 is a Naval Reserve Force squadron made up of active duty and Selected Reserve personnel. Its stated mission is to "provide responsive, flexible, and rapidly deployable air logistics support to U.S. and allied forces sustaining a full spectrum of combat, humanitarian, and peacetime operations." The squadron also works to "provide continuous quality training for mobilization readiness."

Olay is a Navy Reservist assigned to Navy Public Affairs Support Element West.  read more...

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