For most of us, there’s no place like home for the holidays, yet for the thousands of men and women who serve in our country’s military, this holiday season may not be spent on the home front. The Fashion Mall and the USO of Indiana are partnering for a one-of-a-kind event that allows the public to spread holiday cheer to troops overseas.
On Saturday, December 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fashion Mall’s new Fashion Café, shoppers can participate in “Messages From The Home Front,” a unique opportunity to send encouragement to those serving our country through a short video message. The public will be able to stand in front of a backdrop, look into a video camera and say a few words. After the event, the USO of Indiana will packages the DVD’s and send them to troops at military bases.
Messages From The Home Front began as a program arranged for family members to videotape messages for their loved ones who are deployed. Volunteers from Camp Atterbury, a joint maneuver training center in Edinburgh, IN, also assist with the program and provide volunteers to operate the video equipment.
“The USO of Indiana has been participating in Messages From The Home Front for five years,” said Doug Warnecke, executive director of USO of Indiana. “We have never thought to take this concept to a mall until now and think it’s a wonderful idea. We hope the community will come to the Fashion Mall and record a message. It only takes a few minutes and it lifts the spirits of so many brave men and women who aren’t able to come home for the holidays.”
Along with “Messages From The Home Front,” the Fashion Mall will have craft supplies available for children and shoppers to write messages that will be mailed to troops.
“We are excited to partner with the USO of Indiana for this special event,” said Ed Huebner, director of marketing and business development at the Fashion Mall. “The holidays are a time to bring everyone together and spread joy to those both near and far. This is a perfect time to let the troops know just how much we appreciate all they do.”
