Hearts Apart support group hosts next meeting on March 16 Published March 14, 2007 By Sheila Rupp Nucleus Journalist KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- Having deployed loved ones is never easy, but this time of year is the highest season of deployments and Hearts Apart is there to support the families of deployed servicemembers. The Hearts Apart group here will be having a family dinner March 16 from 5:30-7 p.m. Families of deployed servicemembers, regardless of branch of service, are invited to the dinner to enjoy good food, fun and door prizes. This is also a time to socialize and get to know other families with deployed servicemembers. Hearts Apart meets once a month at the Airmen and Family Readiness Center. Meetings are held the first Saturday of the month at 11 a.m. The purpose of the group is to support families while loved ones are away from home. It also provides a place to meet others in the same situation. This month's dinner is a spring and St. Patrick's Day themed event that will serve as a welcoming dinner to those with deployed family members, said Tech. Sgt. Steve Felts, noncommissioned officer in charge of the family readiness flight. "It's a nice thing to do and have a dinner to support those families that are going through some hard times," Sergeant Felts said. "It will be like a pep rally for the beginning of the busy deployment season and we hope that those families will continue to spend time with us during their loved ones' deployments." Sergeant Felts said, "It is a very exciting time in Airman and Family Readiness because we have all kinds of things planned and there will be lots of changes - all of which will benefit families." Families are asked to RSVP to the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 846-0741 by March 14.