OKALOOSA ISLAND For yet another year, Dr. Garry Banks, a Niceville family medicine specialist, developer Jay Odom, Sealand Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach, and a number of volunteersare teaming up to ensure that local active-dutymilitary personnel who won't be able to make it home for the upcoming holidays will at least have a traditionaland freeholiday meal on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
This is the third year that Banks and Odom have teamed up for Operation Holiday Cheer.
The roots of the effort, though, go back a year earlier, when Banks was moved by the tears of a patient. During the military member's visit to Banks' office, conversation turned to the holidays and a traditional Christmas dinner, and Banks learned that the service member hadn't been home for the holiday the previous two years.
Last year: Christmas dinners bring holiday cheer to local troops
From the archives: Local developer Jay Odom, Dr. Banks sponsoring free holiday dinner for troops
Banks was moved enough by that conversation to team up with Sealand Restaurant to provide both a Thanksgiving meal and a Christmas Day dinner to local military personnel who weren't able to go homeor mark the holidays in any other special way.
By the next year, though, the effort to feed active-duty troops, their families, and friends had expanded to the point that Banks approached Odom and they put together a plandubbed Operation Holiday Cheer.
This holiday season will mark the third year of that arrangement, underwhich Sealand Restaurant prepares and delivers Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day meals to active-duty military personnel who are working on those days, and The Island provides meals to active-duty military personnel, family, and friends who have time at least to have a holiday meal in a communal atmosphere.
"I really appreciate the people at The Island hotel, Sealand Restaurant, and the Jay Odom Group," Banks said Monday, noting that they "have gone out of theirway to assist ... in this endeavor."
The dinners provided through Operation Holiday Cheer have been gratefully acknowledged by the military personnel who have received them, Banks said.
"The ones who've attended the dinnersaid it was great for camaraderie," said Banks, who addedthat in many casesmeeting at the dinners has created lasting friendships among troops.
For the military personnel on duty on the holidays, the dinners can mean even moreas they work shifts that can extend from 6 a.m. to6 p.m., according to Banks.
"Some of them are in tears because they didn't think they would have a holiday meal," hesaid.
Reservations for the upcoming holiday meals, whether served at The Island or delivered to a duty post, can be made by email at gbanks@ecmed.gccoxmail.com or by phone at 850-678-7676.
Banks is asking that people make reservations at least a week in advance of Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Dayto ensure that both Sealand and The Island have ampletime to have the makings of the holiday meals on hand. Meals will be served at The Island from 2 to3:30 p.m. on both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
A home for the holidays: Pensacola Ronald McDonald House spreads love, Christmas cheer
This year, Banks saidOperation Holiday Cheerexpectsto deliver as many as 300 meals to active-duty personnel working on each of the two holidaysand expectsto serve as many as 100 people at The Island on both holidays, meaning that as many as 800 people will have a free holiday meal across both holidays.
By comparison, the initial year of the effort fed about130 people, according to Banks.
Operation Holiday Cheer now is funded through donations. While a September fundraising event in Destin raised a significant amount of money, donations are still welcomeand canbe arranged through the same email address and telephone number being used to accept reservations, Banks said. Donations will be accepted until the day before Christmas, headded.
In addition to donations, Operation Holiday Cheer is still looking for volunteers to pack and deliver holiday meals from Sealand, Banks said. Prospective volunteers can offer their services through either gbanks@ecmed.gccoxmail.com or 850-678-7676.
This year's Thanksgiving menu includesa Caesar salad, a choice of meats comprising turkey with bread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and buttermilk biscuits and Cajun honey-glazed ham with spicy mustard, side dishes of garlic mashed potatoes, herb roasted green beans, honey-glazed heirloom carrots, and pumpkin and pecan pie for dessert.
Read the original post:
- The Principality of Sealand - Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- SeaLand Toilets - Motorhome, RV & Marine - PPL Motor Homes - December 23rd, 2016 [December 23rd, 2016]
- Schedules - SeaLand - December 28th, 2016 [December 28th, 2016]
- Sealand man jailed for high speed police chase near Chester - LeaderLive - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- sealand | eBay - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Floatplane fuselage donated for entrance feature - Campbell River Mirror - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Burglar in 'lunatic' Flintshire police chase jailed - Daily Post North Wales - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Did you get married in this Sealand church? - Daily Post North Wales - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Global Camping Toilet Market 2017 By Manufacturers Zodi, Camco, SeaLand, Thetford Marine - NetDugout - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Sealand Natural Resources, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SLNR) Files An 8-K Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities - Market Exclusive - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Sealand - The Principality of Sealand - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Sealand of the Pacific - Wikipedia - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Gardening club launch at Sealand and Queensferry Dementia Caf - Deeside.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Sealand - The Principality of Sealand - thoughtco.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Malawi govt over paid farm input suppliers by K61billion - Nyasa Times - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- About Sealand - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- How Are Analysts Interpreting Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR)'s Relative Strength? - Nelson Research - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Inquiry date for Chester flood plain homes plan - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- sealand toilet | eBay - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Unusual Activity Spotted in Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) - BVN - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) Moving -40.00% in Session - BVN - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Pivot Points in Focus: Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) - Nelson Research - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Independence Day 2017 SeaLand & Port Schedule - American Journal of Transportation - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Flooding on Chester's Sealand Road after downpour - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Chester floodplain housing scheme unanimously rejected - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - August 6th, 2017 [August 6th, 2017]
- 150 years of the Shipping Forecast: The magic and poetry of Dogger, Fisher and German Bight - Country Life - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- Sealand - Wikitravel - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- About Us - Principality of Sealand - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- About - Principality of Sealand - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Principality of Sealand - Wikipedia - June 5th, 2018 [June 5th, 2018]
- Sealand | MicroWiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia - July 29th, 2018 [July 29th, 2018]
- Sealand The Mystery Solved - Part One - YouTube - August 30th, 2018 [August 30th, 2018]
- Sealand Marine Toilet Parts | West Marine - September 16th, 2018 [September 16th, 2018]
- Search for a route - sealand.com - September 16th, 2018 [September 16th, 2018]
- About Sealand - Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness - October 16th, 2018 [October 16th, 2018]
- SeaLand is now Dometic | Dometic - Mobile living made easy. - November 24th, 2018 [November 24th, 2018]
- Sealand | Dynamic Ship Simulator III Wiki - dss-iii.wikia.com - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Sealand | Fifth World Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Vacuflush Parts and Systems for marine and RV toilets. - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand | West Marine - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand | Hetalia Archives | FANDOM powered by Wikia - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- About Sealand | The Principality Of Sealand - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand Marine - 4 Locations Across Nebraska and South ... - May 14th, 2019 [May 14th, 2019]
- Surfer cleans his playground by turning pollution into functional fashion - East Coast Radio - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Hefty bill for Sealand farmer who ignored warnings to clear waste off his land - LeaderLive - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- IN PICTURES: Terry is first person to complete nine-mile swim from Sealand to Dovercourt - Harwich and Manningtree Standard - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Great Escapes: The Pristine Shores and Year-Round Charm of Denmarks North Sealand - Barron's - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Terra Firma Imagines a Tiny Country Surviving the Rising Waters - TheaterMania.com - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Appeal launched over refusal of plans to store cars and caravans on green barrier land in Sealand - LeaderLive - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Queues on Sealand Road in Chester due to water works - Cheshire Live - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Coleg Cambria volunteers clean-up streets and rivers of Deeside for community event - Deeside.com - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Review: In Terra Firma, a Wee Wet Country on the Brink - The New York Times - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Appeal launched over refusal of plans to store cars and caravans on green barrier land in Sealand - Deeside.com - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Global Smart Container Market Set to Reach $5.74 Billion by 2024 - Asia-Pacific Expected to Grow at the Highest CAGR - PRNewswire - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Panerai Celebrates the Year of the Rat With Sparsello-Decorated Luminor Sealand - HYPEBEAST - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Former football star and Telegraph photographer Gary Talbot dies at 82 - Lancashire Telegraph - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- SeaWorld Prisoner Kyuquot the Orca Needs Our Help! - The Union Journal - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- Somaliland in the Guide to the 'almost countries' of The World - MENAFN.COM - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- All the shops and businesses Chester said goodbye to in 2019 - Cheshire Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Easter eggs are already on sale in Plymouth - Plymouth Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- This is what was happening in Chester as the 1990s dawned - Cheshire Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Chinese New Year Gifting 2020: From Gucci to Faberg, Rats & Mice Galore | Jewellery | Watches & Jewellery - Luxury London - January 14th, 2020 [January 14th, 2020]
- Sealand Community Council to decide three new positions by co-option | The Leader - LeaderLive - January 30th, 2020 [January 30th, 2020]
- Roadworks in and around Flintshire over the next few days - Deeside.com - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- Photographer from Deeside on 'cloud nine' with accolade - LeaderLive - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- China firms in $10 billion share sale rush as funding rules eased amid virus worries - Reuters - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- Sealand reduces transit time between Chile and the US for table grapes - FreshPlaza.com - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- The 72 businesses with a five star food hygiene rating in Flintshire - Daily Post - March 16th, 2020 [March 16th, 2020]
- More than three weeks of overnight closures on Cheshire roads to start - Cheshire Live - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Flintshire man who went to see son play in band in Chester caught drink-driving on way home - The Chester Standard - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Heres Why Sealand Capital Galaxy (LON:SCGL) Must Use Its Cash Wisely - Simply Wall St - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Man charged with alleged offence under new Covid 19 legislation following incident in Deeside on Thursday - Deeside.com - April 9th, 2020 [April 9th, 2020]
- SeaWorld trainer torn limb from limb by killer whale turned 'psychotic' by captivity - Mirror Online - April 26th, 2020 [April 26th, 2020]
- Revamped Aldi Chester store to open its doors next week - The Chester Standard - May 11th, 2020 [May 11th, 2020]
- Weekly Update: Global Coronavirus Impact and Implications on Fresh and Naturally Fermented Birch Juice Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast, 2019-2025 -... - June 1st, 2020 [June 1st, 2020]
- Residents urged to take care after house fire in Sealand - LeaderLive - June 1st, 2020 [June 1st, 2020]
- Someone has used a chainsaw to cut down a tree in Garden City which blocked Welsh Road - Deeside.com - June 9th, 2020 [June 9th, 2020]
- Covid-19 Impact on Global Coriolis Mass Flowmeters Market (2020-2026) | Potential growth, attractive valuation make it is a long-term investment | Top... - June 25th, 2020 [June 25th, 2020]
- Sales in the Birch Water Market Expected to Grow as Demand from End-Use Industries Gathers Pace 2017 2025 - Jewish Life News - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- Breaking down the top 10 LB recruits in Vanderbilt history - 247Sports - July 12th, 2020 [July 12th, 2020]