By Janecze Wright, Fort Cavazos Public Affairs
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — The Fort Cavazos United Service Organizations nailed it with the “Home Tweet Home: A Father’s Day Build” event June 13, here.
The USO event ushered in Father’s Day with “Birds and Bonding,” a collaborative hands-on experience that teamed dads with their children to build custom birdhouses.
“We want to celebrate our dads here on base and also give them a moment to stop and interact and really bond with their children,” explained Julie Mendez, center operations manager for the Fort Cavazos USO.
“It just looked like so much fun,” she expressed when asked why she decided on bird houses. “We thought this would be a great interactive activity that dads would enjoy just as much as the kids. And we also thought this could be an activity that they could take home and watch the birds as they come into the house … maybe create a little bird feeder … to kind of keep the bonding experience going after the leave the USO.”
Each team was provided wooden pieces to construct their choice of four different styles of bird houses, instructions to put the pieces together, markers to decorate and birdseed to take home.
Mendez also stepped in to help the teams with construction.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Henry, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, participated with his sons Lucas Weber, 10, and Rafael Henry, 3. He said he appreciated the opportunity to bond with his children and the Father’s Day recognition.
“Not taking away from mothers, but a lot of focus goes into Mother’s Day, so this was a good takeaway for Father’s Day and also just in general,” Henry said. “Just something as simple as this … it means a lot.”
Sgt. Joseph Greve, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div., explained the event is even more meaningful for him and his daughters Hazelyn Greve, 6, and Giana Greve, 4, because he is deploying overseas in a few months.
“I’m going to miss them, they’re going to miss me, so this is just another memory for them to have before I leave,” he said. “It’s just a really good bonding experience.
“I just want to thank USO for hosting this event,” he continued. “It’s really awesome that they did this and take the time out of their day and resources and all that, just to let us have fun.”
Mendez said celebrating Soldiers is the goal.
“It’s always important to take a moment to celebrate our Soldiers and their families especially,” she stated, “and anything we can do to help the strengthen their bonds.”
