Recipients of the Home Front Hero award stand with their families and Col. Otto Feather, right, 374th Airlift Wing commander, during an award ceremony recognizing the children for their outstanding conduct and sacrifices made while their parents were on deployment. The ceremony was held Feb. 11, 2011, at the Yokota Airman and Family Readiness Center. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Recipients of the Home Front Hero award stand with their families and Col. Otto Feather, right, 374th Airlift Wing commander, during an award ceremony recognizing the children for their outstanding conduct and sacrifices made while their parents were on deployment. The ceremony was held Feb. 11, 2011, at the Yokota Airman and Family Readiness Center. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Capt. Chuck Elder presents his 5-year-old daughter Kira with the Home Front Hero award Feb. 11, 2011, at the Yokota Airman and Family Readiness Center. The award was for her outstanding behavior and sacrifices made during his recent deployment. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
18-month-old Jonas Russell uses his fingers to make a smiley face as his father, Senior Airman Joshua Russell, 374th Communications Squadron, gives him the Home Front Hero award Feb. 11, 2011, at the Yokota Airman and Family Readiness Center. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Deployments can be tough on families — especially the children, who face their own challenges and worries when their parents head to a war zone.
During a ceremony Friday at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, eight Yokota youngsters were presented Home Front Hero awards. The quarterly award recognizes the contributions of children whose parents are deployed or on extended duty assignments and is based on nominations by their parents.
“We’re very proud of her,” said Tech. Sgt. Larnell Smith, after his 9-year-old daughter Lena received her award.
“She got all A’s and she even helped fix the computer,” he said.
“It makes me proud that Yokota is recognizing the kids,” Smith said. “This award definitely brings them to the forefront to let everyone know exactly how they got through those six months without a parent.”
“This is great, I love it,” said Capt. Chuck Elder of the event. “The Air Force does a poor job of recognizing sacrifices families make and although this doesn’t make up for that, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.”
Although the children were pleased to receive the award, they all said it was even better to have their parents back home.
“I feel happy because I haven’t seen my dad in six months and now he’s back,” said Lena Smith, who along with her dad wrote daily in an online journal so they could share their thoughts.
Jumping up and down with a smile on her face, 5-year-old Kira Elder summed up her feelings of having her dad being home in the same simple word: “Happy.”
The February 2011 award recipients are: Kira Elder, Colleen Fanning, Daniel Fanning, Kayla Fanning, Collin Rawles, Serenity Rawles, Jonas Russell and Lena Smith.
