Around 500 Army wives of all ages acted like carefree, giggly school girls on Wednesday, during Operation Homefront Georgia’s Cabin Fever event held at the Richmond Hill City Center in J.F. Gregory Park. Soldiers’ spouses from Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield were given an opportunity to decompress from the stress of military life.

OHF Georgia provides military families emergency support and morale services.

“The USO supports soldiers,” OHF Georgia director of morale services Liz Fichtel said. “We support the soldiers’ families.”
Fichtel said the event “could not have gone any better. I think it should get a 10 (rating.)”

She added the spouses create a bond when they mingle.

“They understand the challenges of deployments and the issues of reintegration,” Fichtel said. “We (OHF Georgia) let them know they’re important too, that they’re not forgotten.”

Spouses enjoyed free neck and shoulder massages, Zumba and belly dance lessons, a catered lunch and games, and each received a goody bag filled with skin care products and a scented candle as well as a terrycloth robe.

“All of these items were donated to OHF Georgia,” OHF Georgia director of operations Myra Ebner said. “Many of our corporate donors make gifts-in-kind.”

OHF Georgia and the Liberty County YMCA provided free childcare for the spouses, Ebner added.

Area businesses offered services and information during the event, including Hinesville massage therapist Miguel Ayala, Roffler Full Service Beauty Salon, Mary Kay consultant Chlorin Battey and Energy Oasis Health Club & Day Spa of Richmond Hill.

For more, pick up a copy of the March 23 edition of the News.