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Published Wednesday, December 09, 2009 in Local

Photo by Elizabeth Melville

Friends of the Newnan-based 48th Infantry Brigade Bravo Company Second Battalion held a Christmas meal Saturday at Unity Baptist Church for the military and, particularly, the wives and children of the soldiers presently serving in Afghanistan. Among those in attendance were Yasmine and Sgt. Steven Henley and their 22-month-old daughter, Isabella.

Christmas meal organized for soldiers' families

By Elizabeth Melville

The Newnan Times-Herald

The families of the Newnan-based soldiers serving a year deployment in Afghanistan are not forgotten this holiday season.

On Saturday, area churches came together with the Family Readiness Group at Unity Baptist Church to provide a Christmas meal to local military personnel and the families of the soldiers with the Newnan-based 48th Infantry Brigade Bravo Company Second Battalion.

"We wanted to show the love of Christ to our military families," said Guy Cox of Unity Baptist Church. "We came together for this with other area churches -- Crossroads, St. George and First United Methodist Church."

The churches were also responsible for the establishment of the non-profit Coweta Military Assistance Fund, which financially assists military personnel in Coweta County.

"We're trying to meet the needs that the military can't meet," said Cox.

Capt. Hugh Henry is the rear detachment officer-in-charge who oversees six area armories, including Newnan's Jackson-Pless National Guard Armory.

"I'm really glad to see the wives of our soldiers here connecting," said Henry. "Newnan is a great community -- none surpasses this city's level of support."

Henry especially praised Unity's counseling services, which offer assistance to veterans by veterans.

Lt. Joe Sewall, of Peachtree City, and PFC Jeffrey Taylor, of Grantville, attended the luncheon after arriving stateside at midnight the night before on their two-week leave from Afghanistan.

"It's comforting knowing all our family and friends are taken care of while we're over there," said Sewall.

They are scheduled to return to the war zone on Dec. 21.

Taylor's plans over these 14 days are to spend as much time with family and friends as possible and "make it the best Christmas we can."

Sewall added that abroad, the company recently got back together as a whole.

"That helped a lot with our overall morale -- we got back with our dysfunctional family," he joked.

Lauren Duke, of Franklin, attended the feast while her husband, Christopher, is serving overseas.

"It's so nice of the church to put this together for us," said Duke. "I really feel the Christmas spirit. It's nice to be around someone who's going through the same things."

Duke said she's been spending time with other Army wives who can commiserate with her situation and trials. Duke's lived here for two years and the rest of her family is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

Her husband came home on leave in October and has since returned to Afghanistan. Her telephone is her lifeline and she said she talks frequently to her husband and her family.

Duke's holiday wish this year is that "everyone comes home safe and sound."

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