Home for the Holidays
By Tracy Rolling

The McFaddens smile with glee knowing they will be together this holiday season. Photo by Tracy Rolling

Milk, pizza and sage-spiced dressing are just a few of the foods Ramona resident Lt. Col. Roger J. McFadden will enjoy this holiday season after returning home from a seven-month deployment.

McFadden came home last month from his fourth deployment during the past six years.

As a commanding officer and helicopter pilot, he was positioned near Ali-Amber Province in western Iraq, responsible for passenger and cargo movement.

Upon his charter plane arrival, he was greeted first by his son John, then by his wife, Heidi-Rose, daughter Monika-Rose, and mother, JoAnne McFadden.

The reunion was full of hugs and smiles, coupled with the realization that McFadden had missed a season of his children's growing spurts, their interactive stories, the family summer vacation and almost an entire year of John's Pony League Baseball.

When asked "what was the first thing you did," the McFaddens said they went straight to the market, purchased some steaks then headed home to grill.

"You kind of pick up where you left off, you keep going, you try to do most of the same things you did before you left," said McFadden, who added he was proud of his family, especially his wife for "holding down the fort."

The family has lived in Ramona for six years and Heidi has been busy building strong friendships with many of her neighbors. She says: "Everyone watches out for each other. I've never lived in a town like that before."

The McFaddens spent Thanksgiving at home roasting their turkey and thankful to just be together.

For Christmas they will follow their family tradition by heading north to join Roger's family in Washington. They will enjoy, "Mom's turkey and all of the trimmings, particularly her sweet potatoes, fruit Jell-O salad, and two-layer ribbon salad, while the kid go crazy on the sleds and snowmobiles," McFadden says.

"Presents will wait for Christmas morning after Santa comes and Roger will pass out gifts as the big opening commences," says Heidi.

Monika is wishing for a computer, John would like an iPod and Roger's wish has already come true; he will spend Christmas with his family, something he has missed in years past.

As for Heidi, she is still contemplating her Christmas wish, but thankful to have Roger home for the holidays.