{"id":2380,"date":"2016-04-11T12:09:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T17:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2380"},"modified":"2016-04-11T12:09:29","modified_gmt":"2016-04-11T17:09:29","slug":"air-force-retirees-national-guardsman-win-big-in-exchanges-your-holiday-bill-is-on-us-sweepstakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2380","title":{"rendered":"Air Force Retirees, National Guardsman Win Big in Exchange\u2019s Your Holiday Bill Is On Us Sweepstakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winners, including a Vietnam veteran, have their MILITARY STAR accounts paid in full<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

DALLAS \u2013 <\/b>The Army & Air Force Exchange Service made wishes come true for three grand-prize winners of the worldwide MILITARY STAR Your Holiday Bill Is On Us sweepstakes\u2014and for one retiree, the prize was a way of saying \u201cthank\u00a0 you\u201d for sacrifices made decades ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James Jones<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>retired Air Force Master Sgt. Catherine Lawrence<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Texas Army National Guard Sgt. Clayton Anders<\/span><\/a> were grand-prize winners out of 4.7 million entries worldwide. The winners, who bought holiday gifts at the Exchange, all had their MILITARY STAR accounts paid in full.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"DSC_4791\"<\/a>\u201cThese three grand-prize winners prove real heroes win our sweepstakes,\u201d said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. \u201cThe Exchange is honored to pay it forward to these individuals, and we\u2019re looking forward to bringing this sweepstakes back for 2016.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The prize presentation to Jones, who served at Ubon Air Base, Thailand, during the Vietnam War, was especially poignant.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo few who served during this time were thanked for their sacrifices when they returned home,\u201d Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull said during the presentation to Jones at Barksdale Air Force Base. \u201cIt\u2019s so important to honor his service. What he did so many years ago for all of us is a true sacrifice.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the presentation, Jones ripped an oversize statement, symbolizing his $2,339 bill being wiped clean. Because his bill was less than the $2,500 minimum prize, he also received a statement credit.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first heard I\u2019d won, I thought it was a hoax,\u201d said Jones, who lives in Shreveport, La. \u201cIt was a wonderful surprise. Having this bill paid does take a load off my mind.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lawrence, too, had her mind eased by having her $3,305.70 balance paid off during a presentation at McConnell Air Force Base. She opened her MILITARY STAR card in November and used her card at shopmyexchange.com to buy Christmas gifts for her teenage son and nieces. She also splurged on herself\u2014buying a 55-inch TV she had been wanting for years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have to stretch my budget,\u201d said Lawrence, whose 23-year military career ended when she suffered permanent nerve damage after shattering two vertebrae in her neck while exercising to prepare for deployment. \u201cI\u2019m a single mom, and I take care of my disabled dog, too. Having this bill paid means less stress on me, especially since I\u2019m disabled.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For Anders, who serves in the Texas Army National Guard, having his $3,735 MILITARY STAR account wiped clean has brought his family peace of mind, too. He used his card over the holidays at the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base Exchange in part to buy gifts for his teenage daughters. Anders was honored during a presentation at Exchange Headquarters in Dallas.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWinning this prize means my family will be better prepared when I deploy to Kuwait next year,\u201d said Anders, who serves with D Co. 2-149th General Support Aviation Battalion.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The MILITARY STAR card is an exclusive line of credit for the military and their families to use at the Exchange\u2014no matter where military members serve. During November and December, shoppers were automatically entered in the Your Holiday Bill Is On Us sweepstakes each time they used their MILITARY STAR card to pay for purchases at any Army or Air Force Exchange location or on shopmyexchange.com. The 2015 holiday season marked the sweepstakes\u2019 second year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Authorized shoppers can learn more about the MILITARY STAR card at <\/span>www.MyECP.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0— 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>or follow us on Twitter at <\/span>https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0###<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/span><\/b>For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or mitchelljul@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t

\n\t