• What: Offers programs to help people become independent, including offering aid in finding housing and jobs.
• Holiday party: It was sponsored by Partners in Careers, home of the Veteran Women Program and Homeward Bound, which serve women veterans and veterans’ families in need.
• Website: http://www.partnersincareers.org
• telephone: 360-696-8417
• Executive director: Pam Brokaw
For Marine Sgt. Cassandra Trombley, 27, the holiday party was another treat in coming home.
She has completed eight years of service and will go off active duty on Jan. 13.
The single mom brought her 3-year-old son, Lucas, to a party for veterans and their families on Sunday and was in the holiday spirit.
• What: Offers programs to help people become independent, including offering aid in finding housing and jobs.
• Holiday party: It was sponsored by Partners in Careers, home of the Veteran Women Program and Homeward Bound, which serve women veterans and veterans' families in need.
• Website: <a href="http://www.partnersincareers.org">http://www.partnersincareers.org</a>
• telephone: 360-696-8417
• Executive director: Pam Brokaw
“Oh, it’s great,” she said of the celebration sponsored by Partners in Careers. “I can’t believe they have so many fun things for the children to do.”
Trombley, a native of St. Paul, Minn., served for seven months in Camp Fallujah, Iraq. She was on convoy security detail and, yes, she often was in harm’s way but she was not injured.
She said her former mother-in-law told her about the party and was glad to learn of the efforts of Partners in Careers to help women veterans.
Trombley plans to study photography at the Art Institute of Portland. As for the Partners organization, she said, “I’ll definitely keep in contact.”
Partners Executive Director Pam Brokaw said the party was a good way to tell vets about her program.
“We had 24 veterans there,” Brokaw said “Most of the veterans there were women, and we were really thrilled.
“One of the reasons we wanted to do a family celebration was to reach out to women veterans and families of veterans. We wanted to do something that was low-key but fun. The kids had a blast,” Brokaw said.
The party had a carnival theme with a cakewalk, fishing game and ring toss. Santa provided candy canes and promised to take letters back to the North Pole.
Navy vet Tyrone Hadley, 48, of Orchards was at the party with his wife, Angela Thompson, and their children, Tyson, 10, Trinity, 8, and Tylia, 6.
“It’s beautiful,” Hadley said of the holiday celebration. “I love the way the veterans are being represented. I love the way they are reaching out to the families.”
Hadley said Partners in Careers helped his family find a home in Orchards. He said he plans to buy the house.
Gale Johnson was at the party with her children, Isaiah, 8, and Rya, 6. Her husband, Army Cpl. Jeremiah Johnson, died Jan. 5, 2007, from injuries suffered in a vehicle rollover in Baghdad, Iraq, two weeks earlier.
“One day at a time,” Gale said when asked about her life.
“We have baby books and videos … we keep him alive as much as we can,” she said of efforts for the children to remember their dad. “The children keep me going. They look more and more like him every day, and it helps me.”
And she said the kids were happy at the party.
“If it involves Santa, sugar and toys, we’re good for the holidays,” she said.
“The cakewalk is my favorite,” Rya said.
Offered Isaiah, between licks, “Getting the candy cane is my favorite.”
