RAF Mildenhall hosts Hearts Apart dinner with Asian zing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  American and British families of deployed servicemembers gathered May 20 at the RAF Mildenhall Youth Center for a Hearts Apart dinner and show.

In observance of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, the event included an Asian pot luck feast, dance performances and a martial arts demonstration.

Master Sgt. William Dominy, Airman and Family Readiness Center readiness noncommissioned officer in charge, said the event is intended to foster a sense of community - and that includes everyone.

"With the British families here, American family members can get help with local issues they may have," he said. "They each have a family member downrange, and that becomes the common thread here."

The master sergeant said more than 40 British families from RAFs Honnington and Marham came out to the event, adding to the crowd of more than 200 people in attendance.

Nina Lines, whose husband is deployed to Afghanistan from RAF Marham, said she thought the gathering was a great way for families to share their experiences and advice on how they cope with the difficulties of a deployment.

"This is a great way to learn from each other," she said. Mrs. Lines said she'd attended similar events at her husband's base as well as RAF Lakenheath, but this was her first time as a spouse of a deployed member.

"The joint events are a great way for us to learn about other cultures," she said. "For example, Americans seem to be a bit more relaxed and open to talking to each other."

Her daughters, Holly and Megan, however, said they were in it for the food - the sprawling expanse of various aromatic Asian dishes, that is.

While those in attendance chowed down on meals from all around the Pacific, they were treated to several Asian-influenced dances, from Bali to the Philippians, and as far east as Hawaii. After the dances, a group of young karate students demonstrated their skills en masse for the crowd.

The Hearts Apart dinner is typically held on a monthly basis, and is usually sponsored by a different unit or organization each time, Sergeant Dominy said, and the families who benefit seem to appreciate the effort.

"All I can say is a massive thanks," Mrs. Lines said.