LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Military pride shines throughout the Harris home in the Back Mountain. It's the same pride that radiates from Pam Harris herself, as her son, Lieutenant Christian Roberts, is carrying on his mother's legacy in the Navy.
"We want our kids to do better than we did. I joined the military right out of high school, I enlisted. He had the opportunity to go to the Naval Academy, and that gave him a boost up," said Navy Veteran and Blue Star Mother, Pam Harris,
But, serving on a submarine means Pam can go months without hearing from her son.
"The holidays are very hard. This is the very first Thanksgiving he won't be home," said Harris
Instead, she'll be packing up a piece of her heart this year. Pam will be filling 200 boxes with the Blue Star Mothers of NEPA this weekend, each one going to local service members. Every woman stuffing the boxes has one thing in common: a son or daughter serving our country, making them Blue Star Mothers.
"They were a great support to me, so that I knew other people who were going through it. Or if I was having a really bad day, I could just call or text somebody. They were all there for me," added Harris.
The boxes will be filled with items that are specifically selected, sending a taste of home to our troops this holiday.
"We do locally roasted coffee, locally made maple syrup, Tastykakes, and Middleswarth chips... all the things that are just right here," smiled Pam.
And of course, Lieutenant Roberts will be getting one too. A small gesture, but this group of moms is helping Pam get through the hardest holiday yet.
"Unless you're a parent or grandparent of somebody who's in the military, either deployed or stationed farther away from home, they don't really get it. They're like, 'Well, they'll be home,' but they might not," said Pam Harris, Navy Veteran, Blue Star Mother.
The Blue Star Mothers of NEPA is always accepting new members and monetary donations to continue their efforts throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.