For Christmas, Families Needed to Host CG Recruits

CAPE MAY – Families are needed to host Coast Guard recruits on Christmas Day, according to the South Jersey Region (Chapter) of the American Red Cross, which co-sponsors “Operation Fireside” with the U.S. Coast Guard each holiday season.
Already, 306 recruits have been placed with 89 families for Thanksgiving, also part of “Operation Fireside.” Last year, over 300 recruits were placed with host families for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“Operation Fireside,” started in 1981, brings together recruits with local families and veteran groups for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Host families should plan to pick up recruits at noon on Christmas, returning them to the Coast Guard base by 8 p.m.
“It’s really about giving the recruits a chance to watch TV, call home, eat a home-cooked meal and go onto the Internet,” said Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards, Coast Guard external affairs officer.
There is an “Operation Fireside” meet-and-greet session for host families at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May Nov. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. Hosts will have an opportunity to meet with Coast Guard command representatives along with American Red Cross local Executive Director Carol Cohen and Jessica Richardson, Red Cross regional manager, service to the armed forces.
The service “discourages” any gift-giving to recruits. “The recruits are being welcomed into a home whose family has generously invited the most junior members of our service to celebrate with them,” Edwards said. “A recruit has limited space for the authorized items they have, and anything else could be contraband, so bringing back anything onto the base would not be encouraged or allowed.”
If a recruit does not celebrate Christmas, they are able to stay on base if they wish and not participate in “Operation Fireside,” according to Edwards. “We make all possible arrangements to ensure our recruits are able to attend their religious services and observances on a daily basis, not just at Christmas time,” he said.
“If a recruit does not recognize or participate in the holiday due to religious reasons,” he added, “they are still allowed to go with a family if they choose. Or if they have something specific they would like to participate in, a request would be considered by the command. By having the families pick up the recruits at noon, this gives them a chance to attend worship services in the morning, such as divine hours, if they want.”
For information or to register to be a host family, contact Georgianna Engels at 609-646-8330 or Georgianna.Engels@redcross.org, Monday – Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.