ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
With temperatures sweltering to well above 100 degrees, an Andrews AFB chaplain has found a unique way to support and connect with the brave Airmen who stand guard at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in northern Iraq to his chapel here on Andrews: popsicles.
Officially titled Operation Provide Popsicles, Capt. Andy Thornley, 316th Wing Chapel Senior Protestant chaplain and his team go out into Iraq's summer heat with a cooler of popsicles to distribute while providing company to the men and women who defend the air base.
"It's funny how much a little sleeve of frozen flavored water can get a grown man or woman's attention," said Chaplain Thornley. "But I think it's the act of caring about their job, standing on the wall defending an air base, that they most appreciate. They tell me they appreciate the regular visits as much as the popsicles." Chaplain Thornley and his assistant, Staff Sgt. David Burgos of Tyndall AFB, give an average 600-800 ice pops per week. "We pass out the popsicles primarily to our Defenders, but other units have caught wind of it and are looking for some love, as well. So, we try to get out to all the teams that are working out in the hot sun."
Back home, Chaplain Thornley's wife, Leigh, and their girls, Sarah, 13, Abigail, 9, and Rachel, 7, are the support structure who have helped orchestrate this special mission -- a mission which helps provide moral support to our nation's Airmen and helps pass the time until their husband and daddy return. "It has been a wonderful help," said Mrs. Thornley. "The girls love these popsicles so they understand how fun it is to get one and share one! It has helped us feel like we are a part of his deployment -- even in a small way." The support of Operation Provide Popsicles has spread as Chaplain Thornley's Chapel 1 congregation has stepped up to help as has the company who makes the popsicles by shipping the cool treats by the case for free.
Chaplain Thornley said the mission of Operation Provide Popsicle has an important objective: to connect with the Airmen he is there to serve. "This operation has opened the door for Airmen to feel more free to communicate with a chaplain because of the relationships we establish," said Chaplain Thornley. "Just last week, I was called out to a post to counsel with a Defender who asked for me by name. The ice broke the ice, if you know what I mean." Mrs. Thornley agrees. "It has opened the door for Andy to get to know and encourage many of our troops. It's hot, dusty, lonely, and even frightening out there -- I think it's a wonderfully practical way to life the spirits of our troops!"
And though Mrs. Thornley had her reservations at first about her husband going out to the perimeter of the base in the summer heat, she recognizes the importance of the mission. "Andy told me he was going around with his chaplain assistant and a cooler full of popsicles and visiting the guys guarding the perimeter of the base," said Mrs. Thornley. "That, of course, made me a little nervous, but when he said that when they see them drive up, they perk up like kids on Christmas morning. Andy tells me that a simple popsicle breaks the ice -- isn't that ironic? We kidded one another and called it 'Operation Provide Popsicles' and the name stuck."
Chaplain Thornley's deployment allowed him to realize how much his country means to him. "You may never really know how much you love America until you can see her in action from afar," said Chaplain Thornley. "Our nation is great because our nation is good. The generosity and concern of the American people through their donations to the warfighters gives all of us over here incredible pride."