{"id":1977,"date":"2015-05-11T09:36:30","date_gmt":"2015-05-11T14:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=1977"},"modified":"2015-05-11T09:39:18","modified_gmt":"2015-05-11T14:39:18","slug":"at-94-grandmother-stays-on-duty-for-soldiers-and-airmen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=1977","title":{"rendered":"At 94, Grandmother Stays on Duty for Soldiers and Airmen"},"content":{"rendered":"

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD \u2013 <\/span><\/b>At 94 years old, <\/span>Julia Santiago<\/span><\/a> is still young at heart. And, she says, a big part of her youthful spirit is her part-time job at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, her employer for the last 44 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t plan to slow down. I\u2019m very satisfied,\u201d said Santiago, who has two grown children and five grandchildren.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Since 1971, Santiago has devoted herself to military members, families and retirees at Joint Base Lewis-McChord working at the Exchange. Today, she works at the Madigan Army Medical Center Subway.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On May 4, her 94th<\/sup> birthday, Santiago\u2019s co-workers and customers feted her with cards, gifts and cake in the food court\u2014all a surprise.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Santiago grew up in Puerto Rico. After World War II, she worked in New York manufacturing aerial bombing targets. She moved to Washington State with her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Castor Luis Santiago, who served in the Army, including a tour in Vietnam.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At 50 years old, once her two children were grown, Santiago wanted to find employment. A friend suggested the Exchange, and the rest is history.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul Claxton, Exchange restaurant business manager, says customers at Madigan regularly seek out Santiago to chat.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone knows Julia,\u201d Claxton said. \u201cI know of one Soldier who told me he first met Julia when he was stationed here as a resident 20 years ago. Now, 20 years later, Julia is still here and he still makes it part of his day to always stop by and say hello to her.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Santiago\u2019s wit and charm aren\u2019t slowing down, either. The best part of her job is washing dishes \u201cbecause no one bothers me,\u201d she said with a laugh.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Exchange General Manager Patrick McGhee said the Exchange team wanted to do something special to celebrate Santiago\u2019s 94th<\/sup> birthday.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJulia means a lot to the Madigan community,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s a fixture here.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For Santiago,\u00a0the longevity of her career\u2014and her advice to those in the working world\u2014can be explained simply.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe nice,\u201d Santiago said. \u201cBe nice to customers. Be nice to managers. Just be nice.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff.\u00a0 To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at <\/span>http:\/\/www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/public-affairs\/press-releases.htm<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or follow us on Twitter at <\/span>https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Media Notes:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or mitchelljul@aafes.com.<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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