Job well done

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Col. Robert Swisher, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Commander, presents Staff Sgt. Matthew Cremeans, 386th Expeditionary Mainteance Squadron, consolidated tool crib NCO in charge, with a wing coin for painting the mural at the Learning Resource Center on Sept 15. Staff Sgt. Cremeans is deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder)

Mural of merit

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Matthew Cremeans, 386th Expeditionary Wing, consolidated tool crib NCO in charge receives a certificate of appreciation Sept 15 for a mural he painted at the Learning Resource Center. The mural depicting Winnie the Pooh and friends took over 40 hours to complete. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder)

Long distance story

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Col. Robert Swisher, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Commander, reads the book "One Gorilla" to his grandchildren at the Learning Resource Center Sept. 15. The Read to your Child Program offers parents the opportunity to record themselves reading books so their children can watch the video and keep in touch. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder)

Wall of friends read with Airmen

Published Sept. 20, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Tia Schroeder
386th Air Expeditionary Wing/PA

Southwest Asia -- SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Four years ago Staff Sgt. Matthew Cremeans, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Maintenance Squadron consolidated tool kit NCO in charge owned a small business which consisted of painting mascots on signs for local high schools in McAllen, Texas. Today he is deployed making his mark.

"This is basically a hobby I like to do in my spare time," Sergeant Cremeans said.
Approximately forty hours, spread out over several weeks is how long it took Sergeant
Cremeans to create his masterpiece at the Learning Resource Center for the Read to your kids program.

"It's awesome, said Master Sgt. Thomas Biller, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance
Squadron, support section flight chief that he gave up a lot of spare time working on this Project."

Not only will children be able to watch their parents read, but they will also be
able to enjoy the background that was created for them and instead of the member sitting in front of a white wall it will look as if the member is part of the background.

"It's wonderful for the family members to be able to sit down and have something
they can relate to instead of seeing their family member wearing their DCU's reading a book," said Technical Sgt. Sean Lorenz, 386th EMXS, night shift supervisor.

"When I first came in and saw Sergeant Cremeans painting the wall, I thought
what is going on here," said Maj. Michael Rakoczy, 386th Expeditionary Services
Squadron, commander. "But I quickly realized how important how important his work
was. There isn't a spot like this on the entire site and every time I walk past that room
I'm immediately reminded of why I'm here and what I'm fighting for. Sometimes in the
day to day hustle we lose sight of that but his gift will pass on that inspiration to many
future rotations."