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Friendship Festival TriFold-2011 Print.pdf
Burkburnett is a military, family friendly community that welcomes Sheppard AFB and Fort Sill Families
WHY WE LIVE IN BURKBURNETT
I have always had a wandering heart. When I was young, I would sit and dream of what life was like for other people around the world. How different were their days? What did their meals look like, taste like? I wanted a life filled with adventure and travel. I wanted a chance to go see all the things I had dreamed of growing up. At 18, with diploma in hand, I joined the Air Force.
I met my husband in Italy. We were excited about a life of travel so we fully embraced the life of a military family. Every few years we would move to a new location, a new job, new friends, and a completely new life. Life was good.
After 15 years of adventure, we wanted to slow down a bit. Our children were getting older and moving was getting harder and harder on them. We had lived in San Antonio almost 5 years, the longest we had ever lived in one spot. Our children were about to embark on middle school and I could not imagine them having to go to a school that was as big as a mall. About this time, we heard about a job opening at Shepherd.
We jumped in the car and drove 6 hours north to Wichita Falls. Almost immediately, we decided we belonged in a small town. The next question was which small town-Burkburnett or Iowa Park? Once again, we went for a drive and fell in love with Burkburnett. We saw a close-knit community with beautiful parks, excellent school system, and welcoming faces. It did not take long for us to realize that what we saw is we got.
It seems like yesterday that we took that first trip to Sheppard AFB. We have lived in Burkburnett almost 6 years and we have loved every minute of it. We love all the events like Friendship Festival, Relay for Life, Fourth of July celebrations, and movies in the park in the summer, and the Christmas Parade followed by Santa in the park in the winter. But most of all, we love the people.
What about the wandering heart? After 21 years as a military family and uprooting our lives, every few years I think we finally found our home. I guess I did not know a heart would wander until it finds its home. Burkburnett is our home.
Teri Pickrel
Being active duty Air Force for over 20 years, our family has lived in many places, as far East as Germany and as far West as Hawai’i, and in five States in between. We learned to enjoy each place because of friends, church, local cuisine, and fun differences in local culture. But when we moved to Burkburnett and the Wichita Falls area, we knew this was going to be our new home town. Like many military families before us, we are planning our retirement from active duty in the Air Force so we can stay here and grow roots.
What made us move to Burkburnett and decide to stay? Several things come to mind…here are a few. The small town feel of Burk immediately drew us in when we arrived and started looking for a place to live. The BISD was the first thing we investigated, like any normal relocated parents, and we were pleased and remained pleased by the philosophy and quality of the schools. Everywhere we went we heard that Burk was a great place to raise kids. Then we looked closer at the neighborhoods and found a place to live. With those things in place, we settled in and stayed busy with work and church activities. That’s when we began to uncover the true joys of living here.
We quickly learned that for a small fee to the right charity organization, we could have a big American flag posted in front of our house on all the right holidays…joining an incredible show of patriotism up and down our neighborhood. The sight was breathtaking to someone who has been around the world…and to be a part of it was special. Learning of Project Graduation showed us that Burk’s citizens were not only concerned, but also creative and committed to the right goals. Seeing the parades proved this small city had heart. I could go on, but you get the idea: we soon discovered there was a lot to like about this place.
Then we got to meet some of Burk’s people, and we were truly hooked. Everywhere we went we met people that warmly received us into the town as members…as neighbors. Local businessmen and women showed integrity, kindness, reasonable pricing, and a commitment to quality. My current position at Sheppard AFB has afforded me the opportunity to get to know some of Burk’s government and business leaders, and it has been a real delight. No where else we’ve lived are the people this enjoyable and trustworthy!
As a testament to how much we now identify with Burkburnett, our family has adopted a new name. To avoid confusion between us and my brother’s family in Ft Worth (who used to be referred to as the “Texas Saville’s”), we proudly embrace the label “Boomtown Saville’s” and my brother settles for “Cowtown Saville’s”!
I agree with the freshly repainted water tower on Kramer Road. The motto “You’re home now” seemed like something designed for just me and my family, but I know it’s true for everyone living here, and many others yet to come.
Dave Saville