Military family receives complimentary Thanksgiving dinner

Janet Colvard of Fallbrook discovered that blessings sometimes come unexpectedly. Colvard, who is the chief nursing officer at Fallbrook Hospital, was the recipient of a complimentary Thanksgiving dinner for ten courtesy of San Diego’s XX Sports Radio 1090 AM and 105.7 FM. “I might just get to sit down and visit with everyone this year,” said Colvard when she heard the news. As an added gift, California Center for the Arts in Escondido provided the family with six tickets to a show of their choice.

The contest was developed to honor a family with a deployed Marine member. Colvard’s nephew, Trevor, nominated her for the honor and called her with the good news on her cell phone while she was talking to her son, who is currently serving in Iraq, on the land line. The dinner was served courtesy of Bristol Farms of La Jolla and included a turkey, side dishes, drinks and desserts – piping hot and ready to eat! Bristol Farms personnel set up the dinner and provided floral arrangements.

Janet’s son, Lieutenant John Erskine, is a graduate of Annapolis Naval Academy. He is a US Naval officer but is deployed to Iraq with a Camp Pendleton Marine Corps unit. Janet’s husband, Chuck, who served for 30 years in the US Marine Corps, passed away a year ago of a probable heart attack. Before the family gathered for Thanksgiving dinner Janet placed photographs of her son and late husband on the mantle. “So they could be here too,” she explained.

Colvard’s daughter, Emily, who works in San Diego initiating “disaster preparedness exercises,” was also present for the meal.