This was no ordinary Christmas party, but then again, these are no ordinary children.
Perhaps the only visit these youngsters are looking forward to more than Santa is the brief return of their fathers - the men of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Styker Brigade Combat Team - who are training in Louisiana and leaving for the Middle East right after Christmas.
The company's Family Readiness Group, led by Hope Benning, sister of Spc. Brian Weaver, and Debi Lawson, wife of Sgt. Barry Lawson, hosted a Children's Christmas Party Sunday afternoon at the Frankstown Armory, complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus - riding in on a humvee filled with donated presents - donated food and a volunteer DJ.
"It's so amazing what the community did for us," said Benning, listing off the 10 or so contributing businesses who gave food, presents and time to the event.
"Especially with the economy the way it is," she added.
The group acts like a support system for the families dealing with the absence of their loved ones - especially during the holidays as they face an uncertain deployment.
"Our support from each other and working on this have kept us going," Lawson said.
Benning agreed.
"If we wouldn't have found each other, we wouldn't have made it this far."
More than 150 men in the unit will be deployed for about nine months, first in Kuwait for intensive training and then to Baghdad.
Donna Long of Imler tried along with her husband to keep an eye on her 19-month-old grandson who kept returning to Santa's lap for extra visits.
"It's good for the kids," said Long, whose son and son-in-law both serve in the company.
Kori Plotner of Morrisdale was at the event with her parents and her two daughters. Her brother is in the Guard.
"I think it's wonderful," she said of the event, as her two daughters peeked in the bags of presents they received. "It's nice to have the kids come over and do something."
Mirror Staff Writer Wendy McCardle is at 946-7520.
