December Highlights of Blue Star Families’ Campaign for Inclusion DEPLOY Fellows

The holidays offer a chance to reflect on the year gone by, celebrate the present, and create lasting memories for the future. It is a season that often brings families and loved ones together to celebrate and share cherished traditions. For many, it’s a time to reconnect with friends, family, and those we may not have seen in a while. For military families, this time becomes even more significant, offering a chance to catch up with loved ones or spend meaningful one-on-one moments with those who have been missed. Family traditions come in many forms, evolving as families grow and intertwine with one another. This year, our fellows are excited to share their unique family traditions, offering a glimpse into the diverse ways the holiday season is celebrated within the Blue Star Families community.

Two Worlds of Christmas: A Celebration of Family, Tradition, and Togetherness

The holiday season has always been a special time for me, though growing up with divorced parents meant it was a little like experiencing two completely different, but equally magical worlds. Each side of my family celebrates Christmas in their own way, with lots of love and a deep emphasis on togetherness. It’s a beautiful blend of traditions that I look forward to every year, and it’s always a reminder of the importance of family.

On my dad’s side, the festivities begin on Christmas Eve. My little sisters and I would pile into one big bed, the three of us squished together under the covers, as we’d take turns telling spooky Christmas stories — stories that, in hindsight, probably weren’t that scary but felt thrilling in the moment. 

Christmas morning always had that special feeling of pure joy. My sisters and I would rush down to see what Santa had brought, eager to dive into the surprises and the wonder of it all. Soon after, we’d all head to my grandparents’ house for a big family Christmas brunch. It was a noisy, joyful celebration filled with the scent of cinnamon rolls and the sound of relatives catching up; all of us gathered around the table, sharing stories and laughter. The festivities shifted as I flew back to spend time with my mom. Just the two of us, we’d settle in for a quiet day, watching our favorite Christmas movies and reminiscing about the year gone by. It became a tradition of sorts to talk about the year ahead. We always made a point to put away our phones and electronics during these moments. 

Looking back, I feel so grateful for the holidays I experienced — loving and sometimes chaotic, but always about family. It wasn’t the perfect plans or material gifts that mattered, but the connection and sense of belonging. As this holiday season approaches, I’m reminded that it’s the simple moments of love, laughter, and togetherness that make this time so meaningful.

Little Traditions

The Holiday season has finally arrived again! This season brings so much joy to my family of young children. Our family has three Christmas traditions that ensure our littles get a familiar, cheerful celebration no matter where we are. 

The first tradition that we adopted comes from my wife‘s culture and the unique experiences she had growing up in Louisiana. We read our children The Cajun Night Before Christmas. This book is a laughter-inducing silly version of the classic book. My wife’s Louisiana accent creates the magic as she blends in her best interpretation of French Creole. Our family is so lucky to have someone who can properly pronounce, 

“De chirren been nezzle good snug on de flo',

An' Mama pass de pepper t'ru de crack on de do'.“

On Christmas Eve, we give our children special goody buckets filled with Christmas pajamas, slippers, hot chocolate, candy canes, and popcorn. We all get changed into our jammies, get our cocoa and popcorn ready, and snuggle up on the couch for a final Christmas movie. We created this tradition for our kids to remember the love and bond of our family in a season that has so many distractions.

This year, we started a new tradition of reading bible stories each day leading up to Christmas. I found an advent calendar that has blocks with symbols representing that day's story while also providing a countdown and a book of shortened stories. In 2024, I was born again through baptism and my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My family has been a prominent driving force in this new chapter of my life, and I feel responsible for fostering their faith. 

These little traditions, for our little chirren, cultivate the culture that we want in our multiracial ménage.

Creating Holiday Traditions: Military Families Making the Season Special, No Matter the Distance

The traditions that military families create around the holidays are often unique and ever-evolving. With all the transitions and relocations that come with military life, it’s hard to fully grasp the experience unless you’ve lived through it yourself. Some families are fortunate enough to be near relatives, enjoying the familiarity of home during the holidays, while others — like mine — find themselves far away from loved ones, doing their best to make the most of being together.

To create a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos, we establish our own traditions, even if they feel far from what we might imagine the holidays should be. For example, we start decorating for Christmas on Thanksgiving, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Macy's Parade while Mom cooks in the kitchen. Drive around and look at the different Christmas displays near and far.  We also make sure to get matching family pajamas for Christmas Eve. 

No matter how big or small, the traditions we build help make the season special. After all, it’s not about what we’re missing — it’s about making the most of what we have and celebrating together.

Making Little Traditions

As an Army dependent, I never quite understood what it meant “to be home” for the holidays. Born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, my family moved wherever my father’s orders took us, and going “back home” was never an option. My parents were from Memphis, Tennessee, but we were rarely stationed anywhere close enough to make the trip feasible.

Spending nearly six years overseas, I began to notice something special during the holiday season. My parents always opened our home to others. Whether it was a fellow soldier from the barracks with nowhere to go or a coworker far from family, there was always a seat at our table. If we couldn’t be with our own family, we shared the day with our extended military family.

Seeing my parents take care of others during the holidays stuck with me when I joined the Air Force. I made it a point to continue the tradition. When I had my own place, I invited anyone I knew who wasn’t going home for the holidays to join me for a home-cooked meal. I knew firsthand how it felt to be far from loved ones during the season, and I wanted to make sure no one had to be alone.

While I may have been separated from my immediate family, my holidays were always filled with love, warmth, and a sense of togetherness. The friendships we made during our time in the military became our family, and that’s a gift I’ll always treasure.

Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas: Guam Traditions and New Beginnings

In Guam, Christmas is more than a holiday — it’s a season of joy, togetherness, and vibrant community spirit. Each village transforms into a wonderland with unique decorations, while hotels go all out with elaborate displays that draw families from across the island. For Chamorros, Christmas is deeply rooted in faith and family, where gatherings are filled with warmth, laughter, and shared meals that make everyone feel like kin. December in Guam is a month of laid-back enjoyment, with most people setting work aside to focus on what matters most: each other. The island’s culture reminds us that, during Christmas, everyone is family.

As a new military spouse celebrating Christmas in Washington, I’m excited to carry those traditions forward. Like in Guam, I want to make this season about creating connections and space for people who might be missing their families. Our celebrations will include open invitations, cozy meals, and lots of games. Guam has taught me that the real magic of Christmas is about the people we share it with, and no matter where we are, we can always create a sense of belonging and joy.