The smell of frying potato pancakes greeted guests at the Fort Belvoir USO Warrior and Family Center Sunday night during the USO's first Hanukkah Celebration for active-duty servicemembers and their Families.

Military Families had the chance to hear the history of Hanukkah, eat Hanukkah foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly doughnuts and play the game of dreidel. They also lit some of the Menorah candles (five candles plus the guide candle, or "shamash," since it was the fifth night of Hanukkah) and those attending recited traditional Hanukkah prayers in Hebrew.

"We came out because we celebrate Hanukkah and we were really excited to see that the USO was going to do something for it. It's nice to do all the holiday celebrations," said Christal Bardfield, military spouse, who brought her three children to the event.

Jameson Bardfield, 9, said the Hanukkah Celebration was a great way for her to make friends.

"It's nice to meet Jewish kids because where we live, we rarely see any Jewish kids," she said.

The Hanukkah celebration was a first for Lyletha Hawkins, Army spouse, and her daughter, Heather, 6.

"The reason we came is because we live in a society where there is more than one religion. I want my daughter Heather to be more world-wise when it comes to different religions. I thought it would be a good idea to come and actually experience (Hanukkah)," Hawkins said.

According to Sharonbeth Kristal, USO volunteer in charge of the event, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, after the Jews reclaimed it from the Greeks during the Maccabean Revolt in the second century B.C. E. ("Hanukkah" means "dedication" in Hebrew.)

"When they rededicated the temple after the Greeks had destroyed the area, they found oil that should have only been enough to last for one day, and it lasted for eight. It's in commemoration of that, that we light the candles every night," Kristal said.

This is also why Hanukkah lasts for eight days, and why the Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil, she added.

The event was an addition to chapel community's Hanukkah events, including a Menorah Lighting ceremony and Hanukkah dinner, said Sara Astrow, Fort Belvoir Jewish coordinator, and a good way to introduce active-duty servicemembers to some Jewish Hanukkah traditions.

While Hanukkah is not a major holiday in Israel, it's celebrated more in the U.S. because it falls during the Christmas season, she said.

"In Israel, Hanukkah is not a big holiday at all. It's a very minor celebration. You get together with Family and you have potato pancakes and you have doughnuts and light candles and that's it. But because we feel like we have to compete with Christmas, I feel like the Jewish Families (here) need to know that this is an option," she said.

For more information on upcoming USO events, visit the USO-Metro Facebook page, or email K. J. Stevens, USO troops and programs coordinator, at kj@usometro.org. For information on Fort Belvoir Jewish community events hosted by the Fort Belvoir Garrison Chaplains Office, call the Jewish coordinator at (703) 806-3393.