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Tree lighting brings together Team Shaw

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Destinee Sweeney
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Team Shaw members gathered at the Friendship Chapel for the annual Holiday Display Lighting, Nov. 29.

The 20th Fighter Wing Chaplain Corps hosted the event to bring the community together to learn more about each other’s traditions and kick-off the winter holiday season.

“I think this event pulls us together and even though you may not be able to go home to your family for the holidays, you understand that we’re here at Shaw together and we’re an Air Force family,” said Senior Airman Stephanie Nakoneczny-Wood, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management journeyman and event attendee.

The ceremony included a holiday tree lighting, Yule log lighting, menorah lighting and a Nativity scene display.

In addition to the lighting ceremony, an interfaith religious ceremony brought together representatives from Wicca, Judaism, and Western and Eastern Orthodox Christianity, to speak about their respective holiday traditions.

“I would hope this event enables folks who cannot go home for the holidays to feel a great deal of pride and feel as if they’ve participated in their own religious ritual,” said Chaplain (Capt.) James Finley, 20th FW Chaplain Corps chaplain.

Approximately 350 individuals attended the Holiday Display Lighting. The event presents an opportunity for the base community to celebrate the holidays and share their traditions together, raising morale and unity.