Military Going Away/Homecoming Parties

A lot of people have friends a relatives in the armed forces. I know the military itself usually has a going away/homecoming party for the troops and their families, but what about doing a separate one for your relative or friend?

I think it would be more personal, and more meaningful, to also host one separately from the organized one. Many of the homecoming celebrations, and some of the going away ones, in my area are often open houses, so people can come and go as they please, and the “public” is usually invited via a newspaper announcement. I think this is a great idea for small towns and those with a lot of friends and families. However, I’d probably stick to mailed invites if I lived in a large town or city.

What other planning tips do you have for a military going away or homecoming party?

An open house is a great idea. It is a fun way to gather friends and family together for the military person to say goodbye or hello. The open house format tends to be more informal and gives people a chance to drop in and speak with the honoree. Those who want to stay can do so, and others may want to stop in for a short time and then leave.

Be sure and take lots of pictures - this is a time to connect emotionally and you’ll want to be able to give the pictures to the honoree and send pictures to those who couldn’t attend.

One idea I have for a going away party is to have something that all of the guests can sign.  Another idea is a book where guests can write encouraging messages.  Or maybe small slips of paper that go in a box or jar, then the guest of honor can pull one out when he or she feels down.  It would be a great thing to send in a care package a few months into their deployment.  It also seems like an activity that would be good in the open house setting.