Post recognizes 'other halves' on Military Spouse Appreciation Day

By Gabrielle KuholskiMay 15, 2014

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Wesley Scheller and wife, Staff Sgt. Mandi Scheller, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, play a game of chess during Military Spouse Appreciation Day at Thunder Mountain Community Centre May ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Sgt. Jingsong Zhou, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, son Anders, 2, daughter Athena, 4, and wife Fen Chen play a game of Solitaire during Military Spouse Appreciation Day at Thunder Mounta... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Maisha Aulbach, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation volunteer, and Jennifer Rickert, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation administrative support assistant and Military Spouse Appreciation Day event coordinator draw tickets and a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

In accordance with Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Fort Huachuca recognized the important role spouses play in today's Army by hosting an evening out at Thunder Mountain Activity Centre May 9.

The event followed a 1920s theme with flapper-inspired décor and photo area. Period movies, "The Artist" and "The Great Gatsby," played across three projector screens, and music from the 1920s set the scene. Attendees were also treated to a buffet of finger foods, a cash bar, board and card games to play, and had the opportunity to win prizes. This year's grand prize was a seven-night getaway package. The winner could choose between a cruise, or hotel getaway.

The national theme of Military Spouse Appreciation Day was "Army Spouses: Keeping Army Families STRONG." The theme focuses on how spouses are vital to the strength, resilience and readiness of the Army.

"She really does take care of the Family," said Staff Sgt. Adam Christoferson, Company E, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, as he explained why his wife, Andria, is deserving of Military Spouse Appreciation Day. "She's on top of everything at home and she's always there for me when I need her," he added.

This year Military Spouse Appreciation Day became part of the social media age as Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness, CSF2, launched a campaign to collect Army spouse selfies on Facebook and Twitter May 5 -- 8. CSF2 showcased all photos on Friday through its social media event link, http://on.fb.me/1o0RsDO.

Congress officially made Military Spouse Appreciation Day part of National Military Appreciation Month in 1999. The Department of Defense standardized the date by declaring the Friday before Mother's Day as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

Spouses weren't the only group to be recognized on post last week. May 5 -- 8 was also designated by Congress as Public Service Recognition Week to thank Civilians for the services they perform in support of Soldiers and their Families.