Military Homecoming Party Tips
A long deployment "downrange" to a combat zone or duty overseas deserves quite a homecoming. After all, your Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine has been working hard for long hours and probably encountered some degree of danger if they were in a hostile area. A party is certainly in order, but certain things must be taken into consideration after your loved one is coming home from overseas.
Type
Decide what kind of party you want to have. Having a party at a service member's family home can be a great option, as it will let them relive memories from years ago while guests come to welcome them back. Family pets can be present at these parties, and they are often the first "people" that a troop returning from duty wants to see. Be wary of how many people you invite if you have a small home however, as crowds can often present stressful situations to someone coming home from a hostile country.
A park or field party can be another great idea, as more people can attend in a large, open setting. Have it near home, and a park that they have been going to with family and/or friends is an even better idea.
A favorite restaurant from growing up is another good plan, especially if it has a table or room large enough for everyone you would like to invite. It lets your service member enjoy a homecoming from deployment with one of their favorite meals, and you don't have to do the cooking or cleaning! Make reservations well in advance, and consider asking for a server that you know will do a good job for the homecoming party.
Budget
How much you are looking to spend should be a consideration. After all, they are probably coming home for a few days at the least, and may be home on leave for quite some time. Do not go broke on the first couple days throwing a big party and then have them sitting around bored when they are with you, paying for everything with hard-earned deployment money, or just spending all of their time with other people. Save up for good food, a well-decorated cake, and fun a little if you have to.
Decoration
Decorating for a homecoming party for a military member should be emphasizing their service, but not 100% related to their deployment. Yellow ribbons, a sign of support for service members, should be tied around trees in the front yard of a house party or around park trees. American flags and a "welcome home" banner are great ideas as well. Consider having an easel with pictures of your Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine with their military photos as well as pictures from before their military service.
Special Considerations
There are a few extra things to think about when you plan for a military homecoming. As stated before, do not have too many people in a small space. This is a bad idea for the reason that they may have been in stressful situations involving large crowds of locals during deployment. Some veterans never like being in crowded areas for the rest of their life, so avoid it right after they get back. Also, loud music or sounds like slamming doors should be avoided. Alarms, explosions, and gunfire are common sounds in hostile areas, so don't trigger bad memories too soon. On that note, do not ask about any combat situations or anything else that was stressful over there. They may only want to talk about those things with their military buddies.
Most importantly, remember to keep alcohol in moderation. Service members are not allowed to drink when deployed to the Middle East, and Sailors on ship have not had much either. More than a couple beers can end a party in short order for someone who has not had anything to drink in several months. And remember that there are severe consequences (both military and civilian) for drinking underage or any other trouble with the law related to alcohol.
In Conclusion
Your service member is ready to be home after several months of being away. Give them a great party that they will remember for years. Keep a few things in mind and you can be sure to give it to them.
