Navy Spouse Praises Stellar Resources at Star-Spangled Babies Shower
As a pediatric nurse practitioner who now teaches at a nursing school, Annagrayson Cooper knows how important good information can be for new parents. So when she recently attended her first Operation Homefront Star-Spangled Babies® shower, she was pleased to see all the resources available.
“They had such amazing speakers and a really big resource table,” she said.
Annagrayson was one of 50 new and expecting military families served at the event held at the Westin Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She attended with a friend and was surprised to see so many people she knew from Naval Station Norfolk, where her husband, Navy Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Cooper, is stationed on the USS Nitze.
Benjamin has been stationed in Virginia for 11 of his 15 years of service, which includes multiple deployments. He was away on a Middle East deployment during the birth of their first son, Jackson, who is now 2 ½ years old.
The two met in 2019 and were married in 2021. Their second son is due in August.
Annagrayson heard of Operation Homefront through the base and followed the organization’s Facebook page. When she saw the baby shower event, she registered not really knowing what to expect.
“I was very, very grateful for the opportunity to go… The handmade quilt was very touching.” – Annagrayson Cooper, Navy spouse
“Oh my gosh, it was one of the best baby showers I’ve ever been to,” she said. “They had a catered meal for us. They told everyone ahead of time they were giving out a crib to everyone. Honestly, it was great. I was very, very, grateful for the opportunity to go.”
Along with all the baby items, crib, resources and information, all attendees received a handmade quilt.
“The handmade quilt was very touching,” she added. “Some of us are far away from families so we don’t have baby showers, or maybe someone does not have a good relationship with their families but now they have a handmade quilt that can be an heirloom, which is super sweet.”
She said the items also helped ease burden and stress because she has experienced complications with the pregnancy and having items on hand has reduced how much she needs to do. Knowing her baby has a place to sleep also reduces worry, something that she said is a gift to any new parent.
“From a pediatric nurse point of view, I always think about what if some families don’t have a safe place for baby to sleep?” she said. “By giving a crib, (the donors) guaranteed that safe sleep. It was amazing.”
Operation Homefront’s Star-Spangled Babies® program is dedicated to supporting service members and their growing families. The program has provided vital baby supplies to more than 21,000 military moms since 2008.
