Physical Distancing fairy descends on USAG Ansbach

By Dani JohnsonApril 20, 2020

Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, ensures Capt. Bryan Westervelt and 1st Sgt. Carmelo Vasquez, both from 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, keeps appropriate distancing during a Commander and Senior Leader Family Advocacy Program briefing on...
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, ensures Capt. Bryan Westervelt and 1st Sgt. Carmelo Vasquez, both from 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, keeps appropriate distancing during a Commander and Senior Leader Family Advocacy Program briefing on Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment Director, and Kimberly Stockton, IMCOM-Europe theatrical costume collection and workshop, Theatrix, to spread the word of maintaining social-connectedness while physically distanced in our fight to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 virus. (Photo Credit: Dani Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, keeps the distance with Crystal Rose Chmielewski, 5, daughter of Mike and Nhu Chmielewski, on Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment...
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, keeps the distance with Crystal Rose Chmielewski, 5, daughter of Mike and Nhu Chmielewski, on Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment Director, and Kimberly Stockton, IMCOM-Europe theatrical costume collection and workshop, Theatrix, to spread the word of maintaining social-connectedness while physically distanced in our fight to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 virus. (Photo Credit: Dani Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, poses with 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers, who are volunteering at the post office, on Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of...
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, poses with 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers, who are volunteering at the post office, on Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment Director, and Kimberly Stockton, IMCOM-Europe theatrical costume collection and workshop, Theatrix, to spread the word of maintaining social-connectedness while physically distanced in our fight to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 virus. (Photo Credit: Dani Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, reacts after reminding Soldiers coming onto Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment Director, and Kimberly Stockton, IMCOM-Europe...
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, reacts after reminding Soldiers coming onto Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment Director, and Kimberly Stockton, IMCOM-Europe theatrical costume collection and workshop, Theatrix, to spread the word of maintaining social-connectedness while physically distanced in our fight to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 virus. (Photo Credit: Dani Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, points at a “Mind the Meter” sign at the Exchange Express on Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment Director, and Kimberly...
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Desse, the Physical Distancing fairy, points at a “Mind the Meter” sign at the Exchange Express on Katterbach Kaserne April 16. The fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, DFMWR Entertainment Director, and Kimberly Stockton, IMCOM-Europe theatrical costume collection and workshop, Theatrix, to spread the word of maintaining social-connectedness while physically distanced in our fight to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 virus. (Photo Credit: Dani Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL

ANSBACH, Germany (April 16, 2020) -- With a high-pitched trill and a twirl of feathers, Desse, the Physical Distancing Fairy, brought her sidekick, Hesse, to the USAG Ansbach community to spread the word of maintaining social-connectedness while physically distanced in our fight to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 virus.

The Fairy came to life through the efforts of Victoria Hanrahan, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, entertainment director, and Kimberly Stockton, costume specialist for IMCOM-Europe theatrical costume collection and workshop, THEATRIX.

“I was speaking to my supervisor and he thought it was a cool idea,” said Hanrahan. “It just took off.”

Stockton, who came to Theatrix from Nashville and has a theater background, came up with the idea of Desse and Hesse, a hand sanitizer bottle dressed as a butterfly, in about three days.

“It’s very stressful situation with the stay-at-home order,” Hanrahan said. “We wanted to spread the idea of physical distancing in a light-hearted way.”

Desse, played by Stockton, goes to places where people gather such as the post office and the dining facility reminding people in a fun fashion to maintain physical distance in fighting the spread of COVID-19 virus and has to be delivered in ways that people will respond and remember.

“(The visit) truly brightened my day,” said Dina DeBoer, Family Advocacy Program specialist, Army Community Service.

“This is what theater does for a community, it gives the audience a message to think about in a way that makes all of us smarter and in this case safer,” said Dan Riley, director, DFMWR. “Having the theater staff out in the community, in unforgettable costume, driving home how important distancing is paints a memorable picture.”

The Fairy will appear throughout the USAG Ansbach community at random times spreading the word of maintaining a safe distance and a healthy connection to each other.