CCA Employees Share Thoughts on the Holidays
From memories of childhood to generations-old holiday traditions, this festive season celebrates and draws us closer to our friends, family and, of course, our CCA families as well. Here, CCA employees share stories and thoughts on why the hoildays season is a special time of year. Do you have a story to share as well? Tell us about it in the comments section. Happy holidays!
The Christmas Holiday is a time to be thankful for what we have and remember those less fortunate. This year I will be remembering our heroes overseas fighting so we can enjoy our freedom. Thank you to the families and friends of our soldiers who are brave every day. Merry Christmas to all!
Laura E. Bedard, Ph.D.
Assistant Warden of Programs, Gadsden Correctional Facility
What is the true meaning of Christmas to me? Well that is a good question with all the recent economical short fallings it brings a new meaning to the holiday for many of the working class Americans. The meaning of Christmas to me is another season to be able to give thanks for what I have been blessed with. I enjoy this time of year for the basic reasons like family time and laughter of the ones you love. The things that you do not get to hear all the time like my nieces and nephews all playing with my daughters. This year for instance in my family will be the first time in a long time that all of my siblings and my mother will be together. There are many reasons to be thankful especially in the trying times at hand for all of us. I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to all of CCA and I hope that all of you will have a joyful and memorable Holiday Season. GOD BLESS!!!!
William Stokes
Correctional Counselor, Eloy Detention Center
My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the inside and outside of our house. My wife does such a phenomenal job of the inside - it puts me in the Christmas spirit. She collects snowmen and every year I buy her at least one snowman to add to her collection.
Vance Laughlin
Warden, Adams County Correctional Center
In my family, we have a tradition that goes back about 40 years or so, since my mother was a teenager. My family all gathers late on Christmas Eve at one of our family members homes. The adults drink and party late into the night while wrapping presents for the kids. In the morning, we all put on our CHRISTMAS PJ's, sit around in a big circle with the children in the center, tell stories, throw confetti, and eat cookies. The kids begin by opening their presents; while they run off to play with their new toys, the adults open their presents. Once the unwrapping is finished we have breakfast. A quarter is then flipped amongst the adults deciding which two adults will take all of the kids to the movies. The rest of the adults stay to cook and play cards or chicken scratch.
Samantha Newberry
Correctional Officer R&D, CADC
The true meaning of Christmas to me, is that God loved us enough to send his son to be born into this world for our sins. Love is the Key. Most favorite tradition is waiting for Santa Clause. And seeing the kids and grandkids now, waking to find what he has brought. Love is the key. Every Christmas seems to be the best as long as we ( Family and loved ones ) are together, With kids in different states and grandkids growing up, for them to take the time to still want to come to mom and dads, is always the best and most treasured Christmas memory. Love is the Key.
Judith Carpenter
Education Secretary, Kit Carson Correctional Center
I come from a very large family, I had 12 brothers and sisters. Christmas was pretty lean at our house because there were a lot of mouths to feed. I remember waking up Christmas morning and findind a paper sack with an apple, an orange, a handful of nuts and some candy and a brand new coloring book with a box of crayons. It was so exciting, and we would all stretch out on the floor in front of the fireplace where it was warm and color. It was wonderful!
Rebecca Williams
Inmate Accounts, North Fork Correctional Facility
What is the true meaning of Christmas? It is more than tinsel and trees, popcorn balls and presents, baking and bargain-hunting. It's more than the season of giving and wishing everyone happy holidays, season's greetings and Merry Christmas! It IS a time to remember the true reason for the season: the birth of Jesus Christ. It is what is in our hearts that gives us the true meaning of Christmas. Once it is in our hearts, everything else falls into place.
Linda Sevison Public Information Officer & QA Administrative Clerk
Idaho Correctional Center
Sound Out
Sam Rogers, A/W CADC at CADC:
I have been blessed with many Christmas memories spent with family back in Southeast Texas, but there is one experience that stands above them all. In 1987, I was assigned to the Marine Detachment USS Longbeach CGN-9 during the Iran/Iraq War. We had just finished a six month deployment and headed to Australia for some well earned Liberty.Our ship landed in Hobart, Tasmania on Christmas Eve; those of us not standing duty headed into town to find fun and lodging. Our destination was the newly renovated Hadley Hotel where we found a lively piano bar and a beautiful young Welsh woman playing and singing Christmas songs. There were three of my fellow Jarheads accompanying me and we quickly brought down the house with carols from our native land. It was there that my buddy, William Joseph, and I met the Stringer sisters, Lisa and Susan. They invited William and I for Christmas dinner the following day at their family home. On the afternoon of December 25, 1987, I had the opportunity to truly experience the real meaning of Christmas. Upon our arrival we were met with hugs, kisses, presents, food, and libations. William and I were at a loss for words by the love and generosity shown to us. The Stringer family raised our spirits and never allowed our dinner plates or beer glasses to reach half full. That Christmas day spent on the other side of the world brought comfort to two homesick and weary young Marines and proved that God`s love is present all over the globe. I will forever be humbled and grateful to the Australian people, the Stringer family, and my beloved Country for giving me the experience of a lifetime. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and may Our Heavenly Father bless you and all those young men and women serving the Greatest Nation on earth. Semper Fidelis
Mary Mollinedo Housing Correctional Officer at CADC:
MY FAVORITE TRADITION IS TO HAVE ALL THE FAMILY BREAK A PINATA AND SING CHRISTMAS SONGS. BEING WITH ALL THE FAMILY THEN RUN INSIDE AND SIT-DOWN AT THE DINNER TABLE, EAT A HOT MEAL AND CHERISH HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE EACH OTHER.
melody rodriguez at Citrus:
Whats the true meaning of Christmas to me?I know its a time to share time with your family and be able to give from your heart to anyone whos in need of things that are less fortunate then us. I miss growing up in a family with 29 female cousins at the time in i was the youngest getting on line to recieve 1 dollar from my great-grandma and a pack of briefs.It was the thought for us to look forward to every year.May your holiday be truely blessed!
Erin Phillips at BCCF:
The true meaning of Christmas is what you give, not what you get. The most important gift I can give my children is the gift of giving.
Dorothy Hilton, Chaplain at Gadsden Correctional Facility:
Christmas means to me a time that we can gather together with family and friends and recall the wondrous night when God looked down and sent His Son to redeem us. I am thankful that I live in a country where we can share our faith without fear of retribution. This is possible because of the men and women that have and still are fighting for our freedoms. Merry Christmas!
Jesus Belloc at La Palma C.C.:
Christmas to me means, The birth of my savior,Jesus Christ. and although we enjoy the exchanging of gifts, having potlucks with family and friends, we tend to forget to realize how lucky we are to have family ,and friends,that love us,care for us,and are there when we need them. Being a father of 4 and 2 of my daughters being born pre-mature and weighing 1lb.7oz. i'm most grateful at Christmas just to have them home with me doing fine ,instead of in the hospital like the years before. Even though we may be at work on Christmas ,instead of being upset, rejoice that the Lord has blessed us with a career, and our health.Share many precious moments with those we love,and love us, God Bless !
Catherine Thomas at Lake City Correctional Facility:
This Christmas touched my heart more than any past. I had a chance to sit and think about what it really meant to me. Family! As I sat around with my large family, with all their wierd and annoying habbits, I realized...there are alot of people out there that don't have and would give anything for my wierd inlaws and my annoying family. Appriciate your loved ones. They are what you have when there is nothing left, and I think the bigger the better, so why not let a few more in. Merry Christmas everyone.