Operation Holiday celebrates 15 years of giving

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (December 17, 2008) - Operation Holiday, a holiday charitable organization in Kuwait founded by Lionel and Shelia Gittens, kicked off this year at U.S. military installations around Kuwait, Dec. 17.

The Gittens family travelled to Camp Buehring and Arifjan to present servicemembers gifts in person.

The organization began in 1994 as Operation Thanksgiving, after the death of the Gittens' son, Donny, as a tribute to him. As the operation grew, so did the number of gifts and servicemembers' lives the Gittens were able to touch.

Sponsors donated money and gifts and time to make Operation Holiday possible.

"The holidays are about spending time with people you love and having a good time," said Spc. Christen Towler, U.S. Army Central.

This year, Operation Holiday was able to give 10,000 gift bags to servicemembers with the pay grade of E-4 or below.

The Gittens received donations from local Kuwaiti businesses and were able to give servicemembers cameras, hats, watches, iPods and jewellery. Also donated was a one-way ticket with United Airlines, from Kuwait City to Washington, D.C.

"Events like this help make it easier being away for the holidays," said Towler, a resident of Oklahoma City, and a recipient of an iPod Nano.