Community Corner
Fort Bragg's 2011 Family of the Year
Taking top honors, the Stevenson family maintains strong bonds.
Prior to Thursday's Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Stevenson, his wife Keri, and two children were named Fort Bragg’s 2011 Family of the Year. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stevenson, currently deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, learned of this honor while on the phone during the ceremony.
The Family of the Year award recognizes families who demonstrate strength, character, service and commitment to their family, unit and community. The Stevensons were selected from 26 families who received nominations from their chains of command.
As the Fort Bragg Family of The Year, the Stevensons helped throw the switch to light the 45 foot living tree that helped kick off the Holiday season. Along with that honor, the Stevensons received a $250 gift card to the commissary, a $500 AAFES gift card, and a Kindle Fire e-Book Reader.
“We’re so very honored,” said Keri Stevenson. “It takes so many people to make things work; there were more people helping than just the four of us.”
The nominated families wrtoe their own definition of family as part of the selection criteria.
"Family means unconditional commitment to one another, even when separated by many miles. The members of our family might have different beliefs, and sometimes have disagreements, but we respect each other and know that we bring something unique and important to the family," the Stevensons wrote. "If our immediate family is separated by a deployment, we know our military family is always present."