Operation Pillowcase kicks off:Project offers deployed troops soft reminder of home

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 47th FTW Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AFB, TEXAS --  Laughlin members who are preparing to deploy in suppoert of global military operations can now take with them a soft reminder of home.Operation Pillowcase is a project being conducted by the Laughlin Airman and Family Readiness Center.

The AFRC can take any digital photo of kids, pets or any other reminder of home and put the image on a standard pillowcase for the deployed member to take to their deployed location.

They will also make pillowcases for children here at home to remind them of their mommy or daddy who's serving overseas.

­Tech. Sgt. Walter Anderson, AFRC, said the project was started in 2002 by the 439th Airlift Wing support staff at Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.

"The idea was to help families stay connected," Sergeant Anderson said. It was right after Sept. 11, when the number of Reserve deployments rose significantly, he said.

Anyone wishing to donate pillowcases to the project are invited to do so by dropping them off either at the Laughlin AFRC, at the Plaza del Sol Mall office by Ross or at the Garments of Praise cart in the center of the mall.

For details or to find out how to get a pillowcase either for yourself or your loved ones, call Sergeant Anderson at 298-5620.