Chapel holds Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The Columbus Air Force Base Chapel held a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony Thursday evening, Dec. 5, outside of the 14th Mission Support Group building.

"The Columbus Chapel is at its best when we are doing events that bless our Airmen, our civilian workers and their families," said Capt. James Taylor III, 14th Flying Training Wing Chaplain. "Not even the threat of inclement weather could keep people from the holiday cheer!"

Representing the families of the deployed service members, Christina and Bryce Beddies, wife and son of deployed Air Force Tech. Sgt. Douglas Beddies, 14th Operations Support Squadron, hit the switch to illuminate the tree.

"This event is really special because you have families with military members that are deployed or separated from their families and just aren't able to be together for the holidays," said Staff Sgt. Charles Woford, 14th Flying Training Wing Chapel NCOIC and plans and programs. The family can go to the event and see the Commander, see the First Sergeants, see other peers or Airmen that they know and are able to have that fellowship with them. It allows them to show their family that there is still life outside of a family member being gone."
While approximately 250 participants sang along to Christmas carols, a waving Santa rode by on a fire truck toward the Base Chapel.

Following the ceremony, the crowd was invited into the Chapel Annex for homemade cookies, hot cocoa and apple cider. Children had the opportunity to meet Santa up close and have their picture taken with him.

"This was an opportunity for us to help offset some of the costs associated with the holidays such as photos taken with Santa Claus," said Woford. "The direction of the Chaplain corps is to advise leadership and provide worship services. Not everything we do is based around God, it's based around people. Making sure people are taken care of is ultimately the end goal."