A heart for people: Helping deployed families

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shanice Williams-Jones
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Military families face unique struggles that come from a family member’s commitment to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. During these difficult times, a helping hand is an essential thing to have and to give in the military community. 

One Liberty Wing child takes this responsibility in earnest. Ethan Grigg, son of U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Grigg, 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons section chief, spearheaded a free lawn mowing service for spouses of deployed Airmen here.

“I’m always glad to help others and my mom and dad helped me with the flyers,” Ethan said.

Ethan, with the help of his family, distributed these flyers in places across the installation. It was at a deployed family support dinner that 48th Fighter Wing leadership came across the flyer.

“Colonel Marshall and I, on behalf of the Liberty Wing, wanted to thank Ethan for his kindness and generosity in offering free lawn care service for the spouses of deployed members,” said Col. John Stratton, 48th FW vice commander.

According to Stratton, Ethan’s efforts made an impression as a display of what it means to support each other in the military community. Stratton surprised Ethan with a recognition ceremony receiving a coin and certificate.

“Every time I get a chance to talk with our military members around the base, I ask them to keep working hard, do the job they’ve been trained to do, and be a positive influence on the people they work with and in their community,” Stratton said. “Ethan, as a 12-year-old, is embodying that message and making things a little easier and just a little nicer for our Liberty Wing families with his simple act of kindness. We appreciate it and we wanted to bring attention to it across the base.”