THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 4, 1996 TAG: 9512300125
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Spending the holidays apart from family is a part of being in the military, but Operation J.I.N.G.L.E. puts a little joy into the season by reuniting military personnel with their families.
Operation J.I.N.G.L.E. stands for Join In Giving A Little Extra. The program works like this: Participating innkeepers set aside five to 20 rooms to be made available for service members and their families between Dec. 23 and 26. There is no charge for the rooms, although participants must make at least a $10 contribution to the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Fund.
At Norfolk's gaily decorated Marriott Waterside, on East Main Street, Navy Seaman Louis Anthony Lopez, 20, stationed aboard the cruiser Thomas S. Gates, spent Christmas with his wife, Karina, 19, whom he hadn't seen since early November.
Originally from Puerto Rico, they met after moving to New York City, where they were married two years ago. Eleven months later, Louis enlisted in the Navy. Last December he was in boot camp; they spent their first Christmas apart. For awhile it looked like they would be separated for their second one, too.
``I heard about (Operation J.I.N.G.L.E.) on the ship; it was in the Plan of the Day, around Thanksgiving,'' Louis recalled. ``It said families could come over, stay over, for the holidays. I set it up through the command master chief.
``I gave a $10 money order to the command master chief. I usually donate anyway.''
The program is a joint effort of the Norfolk Hotel/Motel Association, the Public Affairs Office of the Norfolk Naval Base and the Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau. Last year, according to Amy Jonak of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, 21 innkeepers participated, filling 140 rooms. That's approximately $23,400 worth of free accommodations.
By Dec. 19, 17 innkeepers had signed up to participate in the program.
For some, like the Lopezes, it meant a reunion between husband and wife. For others it meant a full-blown holiday family reunion.
``The families really appreciate the program,'' according to Liz Tinkham, convention services manager for the Convention & Visitors Bureau. ``Usually four or five people per service person come; they bring the whole family.''
``It's something we're very happy to do,'' said Jack Harris, outgoing Norfolk Hotel/Motel Association president and general manager at the Best Western Center Inn on North Military Highway. ``It does help our military community. Our military community is very important to us. We like to take every chance to show our appreciation.''
Dan Marone, incoming Norfolk Hotel/Motel Association president and general manager at the Marriott, where the Lopezes stayed, said:
``It's been going on for a number of years. All members of the NHMA participate; we all have such a good relationship with the folks out at the naval base, all year-round. We work together very well.''
The Lopezes, in room 430, weren't spending much time thinking about community relations, however; they were thinking about each other.
``I found out two weeks ago,'' said Karina, recalling when she learned of Operation J.I.N.G.L.E. ``It was great. Last year we weren't together. This will be our first Christmas together.''
Tired but excited, she left New York City by bus at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, to arrive in Norfolk at 5:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22. She would stay until Christmas Day, when she would begin the long ride home.
Early Friday evening, they went to Waterside. On Christmas Eve, Louis hoped to show his wife the lights along the Virginia Beach boardwalk. A shipmate who had a car also was checking into the Marriott, thanks to Operation J.I.N.G.L.E., and would provide transportation.
``If it wasn't for Operation J.I.N.G.L.E., I don't think we'd be together,'' said Louis, hugging his wife. ``I think we'd have missed another one. It would have been hard. It made it a little more easy for us.''
Karina smiled and hugged him back.
``If it wasn't for this,'' she said, ``I'd spend Christmas by myself again.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DAWSON MILLS
Louis Anthony Lopez enjoyed Christmas with his wife, Karina, thanks
to Operation J.I.N.G.L.E.
by CNB