Brad Chambers
Grand Lake hosts military family
by Tonya Bina
The seven-year-old daughter of active duty member U.S. Army Spc. Brad Chambers, Erin, was especially looking forward to fishing during the family¹s introduction to Grand Lake during the Fourth of July week.
When asked what kind of fish she hoped to catch, Erin excitedly responded, "A big one!" Likewise, her sister Deven, 6, said she liked swimming in the pool at the Shadow Mountain Yacht Club and 'looking at the lake."The Chambers were Grand County¹s first "Operation Vacation" family, hosted in Grand Lake, and wife Keisha said it had been her and Brad¹s first real vacation since their honeymoon.
Shortly after they were married, Brad embarked on his second tour in northern Iraq and was away for 12 months. Presently, he is stationed in Colorado Springs at Fort Carson and there is a chance he could be deployed overseas once again.
On home soil, he has been busy with field training, recently spending one month at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.
Needless to say, his service has meant extended time away from family, causing him to sometimes question his commitment. "I don¹t want to put them through what I did last tour, not being there for them," he said about his wife and two daughters. 'Two tours is more than enough for me.' 'But if I have to, I have to,' he said.
He and Keisha met on a blind date between tours. Within eight months they were married, and Brad spent his first anniversary serving as calvary scout in a reconnaissance unit in Iraq.
Because of stories such as theirs, Bob Johnson of Glenwood Springs founded the organization "Operation Vacation" three years ago, a nonprofit, all-volunteer group that offers soldiers and their families an all-expense-paid vacation, a chance to reunite.
Johnson said that when the idea first occurred to him, he began organizing the program literally overnight.
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A goal was established early on to have Operation Vacations throughout the U.S., he said.
Operation Vacation has since gained momentum, and besides Glenwood Springs, is being adopted in Telluride, Colo., Dallas, Texas, and now in Grand County, thanks to DiAnn Butler, president of Destination West property management, Winter Park.
Last month, Butler contacted community businesses and a full vacation was assembled for the first family, complete with a Destinations West condominium and transportation provided by Home James of Fraser.
Activities like a pontoon tour, kayaks, go-carts and bowling were also arranged through Grand Lake businesses.
The Chambers¹ activity-packed stay in Grand Lake even featured Fourth of July fireworks, a Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre performance, a chance to witness an Airforce F-16 Flyover, and meals or desserts at local restaurants.
Brad and Keisha said they never would have been able to afford the vacation and all its experiences on their own.
Butler¹s goal is to host a military family in Grand County each month, and she has discovered that many of the property owners affiliated with her company have expressed willingness to participate.
³It kind of warms your heart that we actually can give back,² Butler said. "Watching the news every night, this makes you feel like you can do something to help these families." She said she looks forward to the longevity of the program and the ongoing participation of the whole community. "It was fun for me," she said about getting to know the Chambers. ³It made my Fourth of July.
"Meeting these families, I think we¹ll find that we get much more out of helping them than what we give out." Although the next family is yet to be selected, Grand County¹s August Operation Vacation is set to take place during the 15th annual Salute to American Veterans Rally and Festival, which will be held Aug. 17-19 in Winter Park and the Fraser Valley.
The Operation Vacation family will have the chance to be among more than 40,000 motorcyclists thundering through the Valley in honor of American
heroes: United States Veterans, active duty members of the Armed Forces, POWs and MIAs, and armed service men and women killed in action.
Operation Vacation is still looking for sponsors to support the program.
Anyone interested in helping out can find details at www.operationvacation.org, or by contacting Butler at 970-726-8881.
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Listing of Destinations
OPERATION VACATION
The Chambers family, U.S. Army Spc. Brad, his wife Keisha, and daughters Erin,7, and Deven, 6, were treated to a three-day Fourth of July holiday stay in Grand Lake. They are the first family to have taken part in Grand County¹s Operation Vacation program, spearheaded by DiAnn Butler of Destinations West, Winter Park.
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