Airmen light up camp with holiday cheer Published Dec. 10, 2007 By Capt. Michael Meridith 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Amidst the snow-capped peaks of Afghanistan, thousands of miles from home, Airmen here found a dazzling way to capture a little bit of the holiday season. On Dec. 8, a switch was pulled, illuminating a massive, 30-foot wreath and 1,200 feet of holiday lights draped across the control tower in Camp Cunningham here. The project was organized by Chief Master Sgt. Donald Sibble, the Camp Cunningham mayor, and was the result of weeks of volunteer efforts by dozens of Airmen from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, the 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron and several private organizations, including the Top Three, Route 5/6 and Airmen Committed to Excellence. "Initially we asked ourselves, 'can we really pull this off?' As usual, in the spirit of getting things done, everyone came together," said Chief Sibble. "I've always believed that if you give Airmen an opportunity to excel, they can overcome any obstacle in the way." Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Johnson, Route 5/6 president, who was involved in the project, said that a desire to bring holiday cheer to hard-working Airmen motivated the volunteers. "We [the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing] had never done anything like this before," she said. "But it has become a focal point for Airmen. When they are tired and worn out after a hard day of work, they look up at it and it picks them up." Following the lighting of the tower, Airmen here celebrated by singing holiday carols and sharing each other's company over steaming cups of hot chocolate. Despite the chilly winter temperatures, many were warmed by the fellowship. "If you can't be with your families, if you can't be with the ones you love, then its good to be with the ones who love the same things you do," said 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, Brig. Gen. Bill Hyatt. "That's our great Airmen, great Soldiers and all the people we're with here."