Tonight: Historic JBLM homes provide holiday spirit

By J.M. Simpson on December 7, 2013

Christmas arrives today at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The Lewis Community Spouses' Club (LCSC) is sponsoring its annual Holiday Tour of Historic Homes in the Broadmoor neighborhood tonight from 3 to 7pm.

An earlier tour was held last evening.

The tours begin at the LCSC Cottage and will include 20 homes decorated for the season.

"This is my favorite time of the year," Gwyn Nielsen said as we walked through her home. 

"We have 12 trees decorated because we were married on the 12th day of the 12 month at 12 noon."

Nielsen's husband, Lt. Col. Shannon Nielsen commands 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment.

>>> Cookies await Santa at the home of Maj. and Mrs. Daniel Rempfer.

Not too far distant, Jannette Rempfer looks forward to opening her home for the second time.

Her husband, Maj. Daniel Rempfer is currently deployed to Japan with I Corps in support of Yama Sakura.

"There was a lot to do to prepare for the tour," she said, "but I enjoy doing this."

>>> A unique combination of lighting and decoration gives this room in the Rempfer home the unique feel of "Jack Frost."

Of note was the cookie jar for Santa and the Jack Frost motif in an upstairs bathroom.

"This is our first time having Christmas on post," Rempfer continued.  "And it is good to know that we take care of each other when away from family."

For more information about the tour, visit 1stvice@jblmlcsc.org.

>>> Guests during JBLM's Christmas Tour of Historic Homes will be greeted by the Nutcracker in the home of Maj. and Mrs. Daniel Rempfer.

>>> Christmas cheer begins at the front porch at the home of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Shannon Nielsen.

>>> A veteran of many Christmases, a gumball wreath adorns a door in the Nielsen home.

>>> A large tree lights the living room in the Nielsen home.