cookie drop

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Simonton, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, and Master Sgt. Josephine Krieger, 7th Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant, deliver cookies to dormitory resident Airman 1st Class Mike Maddison, 7th AMXS, Dec. 20. The first shirts collect cookies every December to "drop" to Airmen who may be away from home during the holidays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Connor Estes)

cookie drop

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Simonton, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, delivers cookies to dormitory resident Airman 1st Class Ivan Deleon, 7th Medical Group, Dec. 20. The first shirts collect cookies every December to "drop" to Airmen who may be away from home during the holidays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Connor Estes)

"Cookie Drop" delivers holiday cheer to unaccompanied Airmen

Published Dec. 23, 2008
By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Dyess first sergeants organized and executed the annual "Cookie Drop" here Dec. 22, delivering approximately 300 dozen homemade goodies to more than 600 dormitory residents.

This holiday tradition enables single, unaccompanied enlisted Airmen to have that "taste of home" they expect during the winter season, even though some may not be able to be with their families.

"This is just a really fun way to give back to our dorm residents and put a smile on their faces," said Master Sgt. Sean Cope, 40th Airlift Squadron first sergeant. "Many base Airmen are in 'service-oriented' career fields which require them to work even though most of America gets time off during the holidays. Our defenders, firefighters, some medical personnel, and food service production Airmen might not be able to get homemade cookies at mom's house, so this is like a little holiday surprise."

Although the first sergeants, or "shirts," whose role in the Air Force is to ensure the morale and welfare of the enlisted force, are the primary organizers of the annual "Cookie Drop," the whole base has the opportunity to get involved.

"We get all these homemade cookies from members of the Officers and Enlisted Spouses Clubs and other generous donors from Dyess," Sergeant Cope said. "Even the wing commander gets involved."

Usually the Airmen aren't home when cookies are "dropped," so Sergeant Cope said it comes as a bit of a surprise. But, when they see a plate of goodies, cheerfully wrapped with a note from the shirt, "they love it," he said.

"It's really important that we take a little bit of time out of our schedules to appreciate them," Sergeant Cope said. "These young Airmen have sacrificed time with their families in order to serve their country and defend our nation's freedom, and this is the least we can do to help make their holidays warm and bright."