Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

A little disco and a lot of fun for airmen, families at Nellis Christmas party

USO Holiday Feast at Nellis AFB

L.E. Baskow

Airman 1st Class Jerryl Franklin completes a flip during a dance contest he went on to win at Nellis Air Force Base during the USO’s Christmas Day feast for active-duty military personnel Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014.

USO Holiday Feast at Nellis AFB

Airman 1st Class Jerryl Franklin completes a flip during a dance contest he went on to win at Nellis Air Force Base during the USO's Christmas Day feast for active-duty military personnel Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Launch slideshow »

Children giggled as they tossed beanbags at a red, white and blue target, and airmen in and out of uniform strutted their stuff on the dance floor.

There was food — piles of turkey, stuffing, potatoes and sugar cookies — and the poinsettias decorating the room matched the festive hats donned by guests.

The USO delivered holiday cheer and funky tunes to airmen and their families who couldn't get away from Nellis Air Force Base on Christmas Day, throwing a feast for the active-duty military members and their loved ones.

"We wanted to bring a band and have some food and just make it like a holiday feast," said Tim Mullin, center director for the USO Las Vegas.

The day began with food being gobbled up by guests, who listened to Christmas tunes as they gathered around tables with family members, friends and airmen.

Attendees then boogied to a performance by the Australian Bee Gees, a tribute act from the Excalibur, dusting off their disco moves as the band sung hits including "You Should Be Dancing."

The party stayed alive with a pie-eating contest, a dance competition and a push-up contest.

Airman 1st Class Jerryl Franklin, 19, won one of two Amazon tablets after busting out a moonwalk and removing his Nike slippers to do backflips in the dance contest.

Franklin, who is spending his first Christmas away from his family this year, said he was glad his fellow airmen could enjoy the day.

"It’s nice seeing a lot of people having a great time with family and friends,” he said. “It’s just good to bring everyone together.”

As the airmen relaxed, organizers hustled to keep things on schedule, offering giveaways and ensuring the food trays were stocked for the 150 to 200 guests expected.

“We wanted to do something nice, and our entire mission is to lift the spirits of the troops and their families,” Mullin said.

Families and friends played Jenga, ate and chatted as the squeaky sounds of “The Chipmunk Song” filled the room.

Airman 1st Class Anthony Guajardo, 22, said he has spent two years in the military, and this was the first time he really understood the impact of the USO.

“I didn’t know that they were this cool,” he said. “It opened my eyes.”

Franklin, whose entire family gathered in Sanford, Fla., for Christmas, reminisced about learning how to dance from his cousin and said he got to show off those skills at the feast.

“I just know I had a great time with my friends and enjoyed myself,” he said.

Mullin said the USO plans to continue the feast every year to bring smiles to the faces of service members who wouldn't otherwise have what he says is a proper Christmas.

"We want to make them happy, and I think they're all enjoying themselves right now — laughing, hanging out, eating, drinking," Mullin said. "That's what Christmas is about."

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy