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'Wings of Lightning' Inn Opens Its Doors for Thanksgiving

Staff Sgt. Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon (far left), commanding general, United States Army, Pacific, signals his approval of a full-sized Fallen Soldier's memorial made entirely of chocolate while visiting the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade's (CAB) "Wings of Lightning" Inn, located on Wheeler Army Airfield, Thanksgiving Day. Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ybarra (center), dining facility manager, "Wings of Lightning" Inn, and Warrant Officer 1 Marcus Norman, food services advisor, 25th CAB, look on as the Mixon shares his thoughts.

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii - Every year families around the world come together to celebrate the joys of Thanksgiving whether it's at home, with other family or close friends.

This year the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade's (CAB) dining facility (DFAC), known as the "Wings of Lightning" Inn, located on Wheeler Army Airfield, opened its doors to Soldiers and their families, spouses of deployed Soldiers, retirees and others for an elaborate Thanksgiving celebration.

Decorated with traditional scenes of Thanksgiving, patrons of the "Wings of Lightning" Inn were greeted in the holiday spirit as soon as they walked through the outer doors. Everything from the usual treats of stuffing, ham, cakes and, of course, turkey, were served to the unexpected such as a full-sized fallen Soldier's tribute made entirely of chocolate were on display, all blessed by a chaplain from within the brigade.

But perhaps the best indication of the giving spirit of the occasion was the tireless efforts of the food services specialists who worked throughout the previous evening and night to put together a special meal for their "extended" family. With over $10,000 worth of food and decorations to be set in place before the "Wings of Lightning" Inn opened its doors for Thanksgiving, the staff worked long and hard making sure everything was in perfect order.

The brigade's leadership, in keeping with tradition, served Soldiers and their families, spouses and others as they lined the entrance to the dining facility. Led by Col. Mike Lundy, commander, 25th CAB, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus Ruiz, brigade command sergeant major, 25th CAB, each of the battalions and their leaders came out to do their part on Thanksgiving.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commanding general, United States Army, Pacific, greets a retiree at the "Wings of Lighting" Inn, at Wheeler Army Airfield, Thanksgiving Day. The "Wings of Lightning" Inn served Soldiers and their families, spouses of deployed Soldiers, retirees and others during the holiday celebration, with visitors from all over Army Hawaii.

Col. Matthew T. Margotta (center), commander, United States Army, Garrison-Hawaii (USAG-HI), and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Williamson (right), command sergeant major, USAG-HI, examine an ice sculpture display as Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ybarra, dining facility manager of 25th Combat Aviation Brigade's "Wings of Lightning" Inn, and Velinda White, food program manager, USAG-HI, look on Thanksgiving Day. The "Wings of Lightning" Inn served a Thanksgiving meal to Soldiers and their families, spouses of deployed Soldiers, retirees and others during the holiday for thankfulness.

Those patrons eating with their "extended" family at the "Wings of Lightning" Inn, all shared in the family environment and their interpretations of what Thanksgiving means.

"Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the things that you should be thankful for," said Carla Keller, a spouse from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment. Her husband was one of the many Soldiers volunteering to serve families on this Thanksgiving Day.

"It's a time to spend with your family," agreed Spc. Peter Mettias, B Company, 209th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB).

Pfc. Benjamin Staniszewski, D Troop, 2-6 Cav., was also impressed with the layout of their eating venue. He agreed that along with the good food, he enjoyed the elaborate decorations the most during his Thanksgiving experience at the "Wings of Lightning" Inn.

Volunteer food servers from Headquarters, and Headquarters Company, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), led by Col. Mike Lundy (pictured center in Stetson hat), commander, 25th CAB, prepare plates of food for patrons at the 25th CAB's "Wings of Lightning" Inn, at Wheeler Army Airfield, Thanksgiving Day. Lundy and other leaders from throughout the brigade spent Thanksgiving serving Soldiers and their families, spouses of deployed Soldiers, retirees and others during the holiday celebration.

Soldiers and their families, spouses of deployed Soldiers, retirees and other visitors from Army Hawaii visit the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade's (CAB) "Wings of Lightning" Inn, located at Wheeler Army Airfield, Thanksgiving Day. A Thanksgiving meal was served to patrons in the dining facility which was elaborately decorated by food services personnel from the 25th CAB.

"I like how they did the setup. I've seen Christmas decorations like this before, but never anything this elaborate."

The staff's long hours of hard work were not lost on him either.
"It shows they actually care ... that they want to do something for us ... something really nice. I've never worked anywhere where they did anything like this."

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ybarra, DFAC Manager, 209th ASB, was equally proud of his food service specialists' efforts.

"I'm very proud of my Soldiers. I had three different crews today, and they've all spent a lot of time, preparation, sweat and some tears making this work. It's all coming together."

Col. Matthew T. Margotta (center), commander, United States Army, Garrison-Hawaii (USAG-HI), and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Williamson (left), command sergeant major, USAG-HI, chat with Warrant Officer 1 Marcus Norman, food services advisor, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, during preparation for the "Wings of Lightning" Inn's opening for Thanksgiving, on Thanksgiving Day. The "Wings of Lightning" Inn, located on Wheeler Army Airfield, served Soldiers and their families, spouses of deployed Soldiers, retirees and others during the holiday.

Staff Sgt. Valencia Anderson, E Troop, 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), provides a quick food service brief to volunteer food servers from the 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th CAB, prior to the "Wings of Lightning" Inn opening to serve a Thanksgiving Day meal to Soldiers and their families, spouses of deployed Soldiers, retirees and others during on Thanksgiving Day.

He continued, "It makes me feel good knowing that we can offer this food to not only Soldiers, but their spouses, and to spouses of Soldiers that are deployed. Although they can't be home with their families, it makes me feel good as their extended family."

Sgt. 1st Class Shelley Hanevold, brigade senior food operations NCO, 25th CAB, who also played a large role in making the celebration come together shared her thanks for the support she received.

"I would especially like to give thanks to the 209th [ASB] command. They really went above and beyond to help us get to where we were today. I really would love to give them thanks."

With that she closed out with a solemn message to our deployed Soldiers.

"To all the troops that are deployed have a good Thanksgiving and stay safe."