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Shaw chapel hosts tree lighting

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Vincent A. Mouzon
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  It was a cold evening at the Memorial Lake Pavilion but that did not stop the base chapel from spreading holiday cheer the Team Shaw Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 2.

Twentieth Fighter Wing Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ronald Underwood kicked off the ceremony by welcoming the wing commander, his family and many other guests from Shaw and the local community. Chaplain Underwood also gave the opening prayer.

Spirits were filled with harmonious carols from the Thomas Sumter Choir, Shaw Heights Elementary School Choir and Joint Chapel Choir. Guests enjoyed free hot chocolate and cookies as they sang Christmas carols.

Col. Joseph Guastella, 20th Fighter Wing commander, called all the children up to help him throw the big red switch. Everyone joined in as he started the countdown. The crowd cheered with joy when the Christmas tree immediately illuminated.

"It was great to open Shaw's holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony," said Col. Guastella. "I was happy with the turnout and very impressed with the choir performances. This was a night for all of our Team Shaw families, but we dedicated the tree lighting ceremony to Airmen that couldn't be here, those Airmen deployed in defense of freedom around the world."

"I think this year's tree lighting ceremony was an enormous success," said Staff Sgt. Noah Stamps, 20th Fighter Wing Chaplain Assistant. "It was bigger and better than last year's event and we had more people show up this year. We also used brand new LED lights on the Christmas Tree."

Sergeant Stamps said he hopes the chapel can get Santa Clause to show up at the tree lighting ceremony next year.

"We had absolutely great support from the Civil Engineers, Security Forces and Public Affairs," said Chaplain Underwood. "This illustrates what it means to be an Air Force family. We can come together for a quality of life event like this from our different specialties and bless the families of our deployed servicemembers. This ceremony brought in the holiday season in a beautiful way."