For Military Families, Holiday Meals Events Deliver More Than Food
Mike Flores was 21, already a father to a young boy, working full time, and taking part-time college classes when his sister woke him up on Sept. 11 and told him about the terrorist attacks.
He knew the United States would be going to war.
“I made a decision then that I would be doing something to help,” Mike said.
He enlisted in the Army. Military service was not a foreign concept. His father, grandfather, and uncles all served. Mike was born on an Air Force base and grew up as a military child.
In 2003, Mike was sent to Afghanistan. He was gone for nearly two years with the deployment and training.
“I knew I would be going to war,” he said. “I literally signed up for it. But in those times, there was no Facetime, no social media.”
When he came home from Afghanistan in 2004, Mike’s parents brought his son to Fort Hood to meet him. The little boy, not yet 5, did not recognize him.
“I want my kids to see that people appreciate the sacrifices we made.” – Mike Flores, Army and Air Force veteran
“That really hurt,” Mike said.
He decided to honorably discharge from the Army and enlist in the Air Force, which he had heard had shorter deployments. As an airman, he deployed to Iraq in 2007 and to South America in 2010. When his family started to grow, he decided to leave the military and go back to college.
“I had taken correspondence courses while deployed, trying to read physics while getting attacked, stuff like that,” he said with a chuckle.
He was honorably discharged in 2012 after serving 10 years total and having reached the rank of staff sergeant. The transition was harder than he expected adjusting to the expenses of bills, especially health insurance. At one point the family had to move in with Mike’s parents.
Slowly, they began to work their way out of debt and into a more stable life. Mike earned his bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, which allowed him to work as a counselor, giving back to other veterans. During his transition, he heard about Operation Homefront. He has attended several family support service events throughout the years, most recently attending a Holiday Meals for Military® event in Houston, Texas.
Since 2010, Operation Homefront’s HMFM has provided more than 210,000 holiday meals to military and veteran families.
The Flores family was one of 100 families to sign up for the HMFM event at the NASA Gilruth Center. Families also enjoyed crafts, activities, and pictures with Santa. There was even a surprise visit from Astronaut Randy Bresnik, a highlight for Mike’s family.
He attended with wife Denise and daughter Ellie, 4. His 14-year-old son was staying with a friend and did not make it. Mike’s oldest son is in his 20s and lives in Dallas.
Ellie enjoyed meeting the astronaut.
“He was really great,” Mike said. “He answered everyone’s questions and spent time with each family, taking pictures.”
The camaraderie is the biggest reason Mike attends Operation Homefront events.
“I go to see other veterans,” he said. “I want my kids to see that people appreciate the sacrifices we made.”
Mike is grateful to all Operation Homefront donors.
“Thank you,” he said. “Every little bit helps whenever we are trying to get to a good stable place after leaving the military. We have been fortunate to get where we are, where we’ve reached contentment, and that’s in part due to organizations and donors like yours who helped along with the way.”
