The New Year has found many of the National Business Center's (NBC) family members returning home from the Middle East as well as joining the military. Pam Larkin's son, David returned from Iraq in September 2003. In 2004, Sue Bennett's son, Troy Lucero, returned from the Middle East in February. Gloria Robert's son, Alastair, returned to the states from Iraq in March. April 1 was a dual homecoming at Fort Carson, Colorado, for Kae Betz's son, Jason Pearce, and Andrea Trujillo's son, Leonard - both men have returned to their civilian jobs. Melody Jameson's husband, David, returned from Iraq in March, and he is scheduled to retire later this year. LindaMarie Hanson's nephew, JD Keirsey, was deployed to Afghanistan in February, and he returned in April. Bill and Cheryl Tucker's son, Ian, has been stationed in Camp Casey, Korea. Lois Rittenhouse's daughter, Katherine Visser, completed her tour in February, and gave Lois her first grandchild in April, a little boy. Sue Bennett's son, Shane, started Navy boot camp in January. LindaMarie Hanson's niece, Sarah Jean Sillery, started Army boot camp in April; and her brother-in-law, Henry Keirsey, U. S. Army retired, is in Baghdad as a contractor.

On December 3, 2003, the Singing Bears from the Bear Valley Elementary School provided musical Christmas entertainment for the NBC Christmas-card signing and gift collection event. One-hundred cards received multiple holiday wishes and signatures, and almost 100 pounds of gift items were donated. For the holidays, the NBC adopted Bruce Davis's unit in Afghanistan. We also sent cards and gifts via Adopt a Platoon. We have received a couple of "thank you" letters from our Afghanistan adoptees, as well as a CD of photos taken in Afghanistan. Jennifer Butts of the Program Support Office made photo collages for the NBC Denver building lobbies.

Bruce Davis, Kathy Shauvin's husband, was our speaker for Veteran's Day and was featured in the last Profile newsletter. As you may remember, Bruce was injured while on duty in Afghanistan. Kathy says Bruce's injuries have healed better than expected. He can walk, ride bikes, and swim, however, he will never be able to run or do ruck marches again. Bruce is stationed at Fort Carson and writes articles for the base newspaper. They are looking forward to his retirement. Kathy says that Bruce gets to come home most weekends so that she at least has a part-time husband.