Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport honors Eglin airman with holiday trip back home
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — During a special moment in time, cheers drowned out the sound of Van Halen’s “Dance the Night Away” song floating from speakers in the terminal at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) on Thursday afternoon.
That’s when airport employees and others helped celebrate Air Force Airman First Class Elisabeth Pursley as the winner of the 6th Annual Operation Fly VPS Home for the Holidays Sweepstakes.
In this yearly random drawing and cherished tradition, VPS provides round-trip tickets for two to an enlisted armed forces member to return home to visit family and friends for the holidays.
Last year's winner: Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport and Daily News send service member 'Home for the Holidays'
More from VPS: Local pilot's arrival lands Southwest Airlines at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport
Pursley joined the Air Force in October 2020 and is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. She said she’s excited to see her parents, who she hasn’t seen since May, and her siblings, who she hasn’t seen for more than a year, back home in Arizona.
“I just want to thank everyone for this opportunity,” Pursley said. “I’m super excited to be able to fly home to see my family.”
The annual sweepstakes is open to entrants who are active duty military members and live in the 850 or 448 area code. The maximum value of the two round-trip tickets is $1,500.
Pursley said she will head home for the holidays by herself and that if she hadn’t won the sweepstakes her father would have helped her cover the cost of her upcoming trip.
“Now, he won’t have to,” she said happily after Thursday’s ceremony.
Before he presented Pursley with a huge replica of a boarding pass for her holiday journey home, county Airports Director Tracy Stage said the yearly sweepstakes serve as a way to give back to local military members.
“Obviously, being on Eglin Air Force Base, you guys are on the front lines and what you do for all of us 24 hours a day, this is the very least that we can do to give back to our military members and the community members that you are,” Stage said.
County Commission Chairwoman Carolyn Ketchel, who is the liaison between the commission and the county Airports Department, referenced Bing Crosby’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” classic song and said she looks forward to honoring the military with “a ride home” for the holidays each year.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport celebrates holiday sweepstakes winner
