The 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, held its annual Christmas party Dec. 11. The party, entirely planned, resourced and executed by volunteers from the Battalion Family Readiness Group, was a smashing success. Volunteers painstakingly decorated the Battalion classroom while every cadre member and their Family received invitations to attend the Battalion's last social event of 2016. More than 70 permanent party cadre and Family members eagerly accepted the invitation to dine on some of the best fried chicken and homemade cookies in South Carolina. The attendees eagerly lined up at the serving line for second helpings like it was a depression era soup kitchen.
The event was led off with a screening of a movie on the two big screens in the front of the classroom. The event also included craft activities for the kids who were joined by more than a few adults making adorable Christmas ornaments and other festive decorations.
Santa Claus stopped by the event, having decided to travel all the way from the North Pole to take pictures with the excited guests. Unlike normal Santa's that kids see in malls, this Santa was in compliance with Army Regulation 600-9 and could out run his reindeer on a two-mile track. More than a few pint-sized guests offered Santa some cookies and told him he needed to eat a sandwich. Skinny Santa's are good if they count against your quarterly training stats. But they lack some jolliness that can only be corrected with a Department of the Army waiver for compliance with the Army Weight Control Program and some doughnuts.
To conclude the evening, an ugly sweater contest was judged by the Battalion Lt. Col. Christopher Altavilla and Command Sgt. Maj. Norman Fisher Jr. The Flores Family easily defeated all challengers with homemade holiday sweaters, that the battalion executive officer Maj. John
Magliocca quipped, could ""be seen from the international space station." Their sweaters were fashioned from second hand garments found at a thrift shop, with accents from local craft stores. With just the right amount of imagination, penny resources, and unfettered talent, the ultra-competitive Flores Family created the perfect colossus' ugly sweaters. The Flores Family entry stole the show and crushed the competition with the ugly sweater version of a train wreck so awful you just had to look.
A special thanks to all the volunteers that made this incredible event happen. Your special effort and support bought holiday joy to the hearts of dozens of service members and their families.
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