RICHMOND, VA –
During the month of December, DLA Aviation Public Affairs will be running a special series of stories titled “What the holidays mean to me.” The purpose is to spotlight members of the DLA Aviation workforce during the holidays.
Name: Mary Reed
Organization: DLA Aviation in Richmond, Virginia
What is your job title, and what do you do, specifically? I am a contract specialist. I support the nuclear enterprise program and industrial hardware by soliciting offers for items we need to support the warfighters and then award contracts to purchase these items.
What do the holidays mean to you? The holidays are a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with my family and friends. It is a time of giving and spreading joy and happiness.
What are your fondest holiday memories? Since I grew up as a navy brat, we were often stationed far away from family. We sometimes went to visit my grandparents in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Almost all of my parent’s siblings also lived there. We would have huge dinners and parties with both sides of the family all joined as one. Visiting the beach, palm trees, warm weather and salty air were not typical things to associate with Christmas, but they made our Christmases with family extra fun and special.
What is your favorite holiday tradition? The times when we didn’t go visit family, my parents made sure Christmas Eve was special for me and my two brothers. We always ate fondue around the coffee table in the formal living room. That was a big deal since we weren’t allowed to have food in that room! Then my dad would read the “Night before Christmas.”
Name your favorite holiday song and why it’s your favorite: My favorite Christmas song is “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night) by Mannheim Steamroller. It is my favorite because it is soft and calm, with a whimsical feeling of cold air blowing around with snow. It always puts me in the spirit of Christmas.