It may be the title of a familiar Christmas tune, but the statement still rings strong especially for first term Airmen who find themselves on their first assignment hundreds of miles from home and without the financial means to purchase at ticket to make their Christmas dream a reality.

City of Minot Mayor Tom Ross recently released information on this year’s Home for the Holiday Campaign. “Last year was the first time the community took the project on, and we were able to raise enough funds to send 115 airmen home to be with their families during the holiday season. Community donations, and a raffle of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, donated by Anheuser-Busch, helped raise those funds.”

This year Magic City Beverage, Anheuser Busch, donated a grand prize for the raffle of a 2024 Chevy Trailblazer. Other community partners helped by providing prizes and donations including: A $2,500 Delta Vacation Travel Voucher, $2,000 Custom beef bundle from The Meat Co. and Bravera Bank, $3,000 Electric Bicycle from Kona Big Wave, a $1600 weekend stay at the 4 Seasons Minneapolis, and a $1900 shuffleboard table from Paradise Spas were the other prizes awarded for this year’s fundraiser.

Mayor Ross continued, “this year with the raffle and support from the Chamber of Commerce through the Prairie Warrior event, and other donations, we were able to increase the number of airmen sent home by 20%. This year 138 airmen from the Minot Air Force Base will be able to be home with their families during the holidays.” That number is compared to the 115 that were awarded tickets in 2023.

Other community partners who helped include, Ryan Family Dealerships, Minot Junior Golf, The Landing Bar and Bottle Shop, Lucky Strike, HESS, Verendrye Electric.

Col. Jesse Lamarand spoke highly of the Home of the Holidays promotion, “we are so proud of the City of Minot” Col Lamarand said at the recent tree lighting ceremony in Downtown Minot “ in my 24 years in the Air Force, I just have not seen this type of support from a community. They reach out to the folks at Minot Air Force Base and tell them we care. It is certainly a great relationship, and sending 138 Airmen home for the holidays speaks to the commitment of this city.”
For the 138 Airmen who are able to travel home this holiday season, they will remember their trip and certainly appreciate the efforts of the City of Minot. And who knows, they may end up singing a very familiar song;

Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays
‘Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home….