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Grand Forks Airmen volunteer at Senior Prom

  • Published
  • By Tim Flack
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A small group of Airmen from Grand Forks Air Force Base helped the residents of Valley Memorial Homes-Woodside Village celebrate their annual Senior Prom in style.

The Airmen - all volunteers - donned dress uniforms to help escort the residents into the auditorium, according to Dan Kostad, the director of recreation therapy and volunteer coordinator at Woodside in nearby Grand Forks city.

Airmen from the base have volunteered at the event since 2004, according to Kostad.

"So many of the residents have either served in the military or they have been through wars or they have loved ones who have served," Kostad explained. "They just respect and value what the military does.

Kostad said the Woodside Village hosts the formal dance each year to "rekindle some of those memories from their youth" for the residents.

The Airmen took turns escorting each of the 70 residents into the dance, where their names were announced and their pictures were taken.

Kostad said the volunteers were appreciated, just like they are every year.

"They appreciate seeing people in uniform," Kostad said. "They seem to have a special bond, a special relationship with the military."