Adopt-A-Soldier program shines: El Paso families open their hearts to troops

Soldiers Jasmine and Justin Miller, at right, spent Christmas day with the Stricklin family, Mia, 9, left, Aiden,2, and Helen and Bill in Northeast El Paso. (Vanessa M Feldman / El Paso Times)

Staff Sgt. Bill Stricklin grew up in a military family so it's only natural that he would want to participate in the Army's Adopt-A-Soldier program during the holidays.

Stricklin and his wife, Helen, hosted a married Army couple -- Spc. Justin and Pfc. Jasmine Miller -- at their house on post Sunday for Christmas dinner and other fun activities.

"I saw how Dad's senior leaders took care of him and our family," Stricklin said. "It seems only the right thing to do the same for others."

Stricklin, with Operation Test Command, said they've been part of the Adopt-A-Soldier program every year he's been stationed stateside during his 15 1/2-year Army career -- either as adoptees or as a host family.

For the past nine years, they've been hosts. One year while at Fort Benning, Ga., they had 30 guests over, Helen Stricklin said.

"I don't know if I could be comfortable knowing there were people sitting home alone," she said.

In El Paso, 45 families hosted more than 100 troops and their families for Christmas this year, according to post officials.

This program is closely aligned with the White House's Joining Forces initiative to get communities involved with supporting service members and their families, said Bliss spokesman Maj. Myles Caggins. Hundreds of other soldiers were informally adopted by the leaders in their units, he added.

"Adopt-A-Soldier strengthens the ties between Fort Bliss and El Paso and it gives individuals a chance to thank service members for

their sacrifices," Caggins said.

Soldiers from the Michigan and Massachusetts Army National Guard also participated. They are at Fort Bliss training for deployment.

Bill Stricklin doesn't consider it to be a duty or some big responsibility to host other soldiers during the holidays.

"It's a matter of giving back," he said.

The Millers, who are both from New York state, said they were thrilled to be taking part.

They were planning a trip to Albuquerque to visit some family but that was canceled at the last minute because of concerns over snowy weather that hit the region.

"This is so awesome," Jasmine Miller said. "We were really in the Christmas spirit and didn't want to sit at home -- just me and him. We do that every day."

Everyone they know had gone home for the holidays or already had plans, she added.

Helen Stricklin started cooking Saturday night. She made turkey, ham, a pork shoulder roast, Southern-style stuffing or dressing, homemade mashed potatoes and other yummy-sounding dishes.

She considers herself to be a Georgia native, but also has strong ties to El Paso. She went to Ysleta High School for two years and her mom is from the Sun City.

Besides dinner, the Stricklins planned a white elephant gift exchange and other Christmas games.

"After the turkey kicks in, I'm sure we'll be lounging around watching TV," Helen Stricklin said.

Justin Miller said he was also happy to be a part of the Adopt-A-Soldier program.

"We're hoping we'll be doing this soon at our house" and hosting other soldiers, he said.

Last year, the Millers had gotten back from being deployed in Iraq the week before Christmas.

"We were sitting around an empty apartment in Germany with nothing, no furniture," Jasmine Miller said. "We weren't sad or anything. We were just glad not to be in Iraq."

The Stricklins have been at Fort Bliss since this July, while the Millers have been here since May.

"We really love it here," Jasmine Miller said. "We love the outdoors. We love having a view of the mountains from our backyard."

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Source: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_19619301?source=rss

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