• BARKSDALE AFB, La. 

In March, Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) associates around the world recognized and honored Vietnam War Veterans Day, but one Exchange location went above and beyond to recognize heroes. 

The Barksdale AFB Exchange team, led by General Manager (GM) Stacy Firemoon-Saulsberry, created gift bags to distribute during its National Vietnam War Veterans Day Commemoration ceremony to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families.   

However, they had nearly 30 gift bags left over after the event. 

DONATION 

Firemoon-Saulsberry and Assistant Store Manager Andrea Godwin decided to donate the extra gift bags to the local Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Shreveport, La. 

Barksdale AFB Retiree Activities Office Director Ferdinand Acosta Jr., Military Clothing Store (MCS) Manager Patricia Effler and Barksdale AFB Exchange Services Operations Assistant Jorden White filled the gift bags with hats, license plate frames, patches and stickers donated by mall vendors Anthony and Alecia Lagniappe, as well as Exchange pins, stickers, patches, and an informative leaflet explaining the significance of the pins. 

“We believed that we have veterans in the area that were unable to attend the store event, unaware they are eligible to utilize their hard-earned benefits and shop with the Exchange,” Godwin said. “We thought this would be a great way to thank all our veterans for their service and sacrifice.”  

In return, Shreveport-Overton Brooks VAMC’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement representative Pauline Biddlecombe thanked the Barksdale AFB Exchange Team and mentioned a partnership with future endeavors in a letter addressed to Firemoon-Saulsberry. 

GIVING BACK 

The Barksdale AFB Exchange Team is no stranger to giving back to the community.  

Since 2023, the team has supplied water donations alongside its Red Bull distributor to support the December Day of Infamy Pearl Harbor Commemorative Norwegian Foot March at the base. 

Barksdale AFB associates have also attended the Veteran Health and Resource Fair, hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Barksdale AFB Johnny Welch Memorial Post 5951, to educate veterans on expanded patronage and on hiring information for veterans and their families. 

Source: AAFES 

Edited by Larry Lapka