Iowa Air National Guard
Thanks to dedicated fundraisers and creative Guard personnel, families with the Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa will have a special way to stay connected during upcoming extended deployments. Here is their story as told by Lori Risdal, Airman & Family Readiness Program Manager for the 185thARW.
"After our training in Duluth [a conference of Airmen & Family Readiness Managers and program volunteers], I was thinking about ways to make the book (Boo Boo Bear's Mission) & bear (Boo Boo) more personal for 185th kids. I knew our unit had taken flags on refueling missions, and thought, 'Why not these bears?' as a way to tie our mission and the book together. The idea was that just like their dads & moms, Boo Boo had to go through training to be prepared for the upcoming deployment. I talked to our Wing Commander, Col. Sauley, and he told me to go for it.
"The 185th Bats Family Club purchased the bears with money raised through fundraising. It was Col. Sauley's idea to get pictures of the bear on the aircraft, get multiple copies made and give those with the book and bear. I contacted our Chief Boom, CMSgt Phil Frank, and made arrangements for the bears to go on a local training flight. I told him if he could get some photos, great, otherwise, we would do it when the jet was on the ground.
"The boom operator on the flight went out of his way to get the fun photos showing Boo Boo doing all the things that the aircrew does in flight — in the cockpit with the pilots, working at the boom desk doing paperwork, strapped in the jump seat, in the boom pod helping with the refueling, and after all that work, resting in aircrew cots. The photos gave me the idea of putting together a card with a special message from Boo Boo, which included his signature paw print. These books will be given to 185th families whose Airman is deploying for an extended time. The bear could be a comfort for them at home, or they can choose to send it with the Airman, like the original Boo Boo, for mom or dad to photograph at their deployed location as a way to be connected to their child at home."
This is the message that is printed on a card that is included with each book and little teddy bear:
This certifies that on December 21, 2010, that I flew as an honorary Aircrew member on 185th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker, Call Sign Bat 31, refueling two B-52H Bombers over the skies of Siouxland. With this flight, I'm qualified and honored to be a new friend for an awesome military child like you.
Sincerely,
Boo Boo Bear
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