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164th Airlift Wing Pilots Visit Sick Children at Le Bonheur

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Leon Bussey
  • 164th Airlift Wing
- Pilots and loadmasters from the 164th Airlift Wing, visited Le Bonheur Children's Hospital as part of the Pilot's for Kids program Dec. 13, 2016 in Memphis Tenn.
Pilots For Kids is an international organization dedicated to helping hospitalized children.
"It's for pilots in the local area to have an interface with kids and some time with them and their families," said Lt. Col. Deron Myers, the 164th AW inspector general.
Volunteers manned different stations where children could receive donated gifts, paint, play games and take part in many other activities alongside their parents, pilots and other air crew members. This was the first year that members of the 164th AW attended this event.
"FedEx traditionally puts this together, and one of our pilots got wind of it," said Capt. Donald Lindburg, 155th Operations Group. "He got together a bunch of pilots and loadmasters, we all hopped into the car and carpooled over there."
More than 20 children, along with their parents and staff members, were able leave their rooms to join the volunteers and enjoy the gifts and festivities. For those that were not as fortunate, they were not forgotten.
"Not all the kids were healthy enough to make it down, but they had closed circuit TV," said Myers.
"Some of our guys went back, with a green screen behind them, and sang a song so that all the kids in the rooms could see air crew members in uniform wish them a merry Christmas."
"The hospital knows that we are here now," said Myers
"The families at the Le Bonhuer to see the servicemen out doing things other than what you think the military does, and take the time to spend with their kids was a nice touch.