Airman Wins $5K Sweepstakes, Flies Family to Meet Newborn

Technical Sgt. Anthony Rodriguez thought his first Christmas at Grand Forks Air Force Base would be quiet and lonely.

The U.S. Space Force airman had just relocated from Colorado with his wife Priscilla and one-year-old son Maximiliano. With a newborn baby, a cross-country move, and a tight budget, flying home to California seemed impossible.

Then Rodriguez got the call that changed everything. He had won $5,000 in the Military Star "Home for the Holidays" sweepstakes.

Instead of spending the money on himself, Rodriguez bought plane tickets. He flew his mother, sister, and three nieces from California to Grand Forks so they could meet Jacob, his son born in October.

"The greatest gift was bringing my family here to meet our newborn during the holidays," Rodriguez said. "Although we could not go home for the holidays, 'home' came here."

The family reunion meant more than Rodriguez expected. His relatives met both grandsons, showered the boys with gifts, and filled the North Dakota winter with California warmth.

Rodriguez qualified for the sweepstakes by using his Military Star card twice between August and September. Six winners from each military branch were selected nationwide.

Sunny's Take

This story captures what the holidays are really about: adapting, appreciating, and finding joy in unexpected places. Rodriguez could have spent his winnings on bills or personal items after an expensive year of relocating and welcoming a new baby.

Instead, he chose connection. He chose to let his mother hold her newest grandson for the first time. He chose to watch his nieces play with their cousins. He chose to turn a potentially lonely season into a memory his family will treasure forever.

Reatha Stockton, general manager at the Grand Forks Army and Air Force Exchange Service, called it the heart of their mission. "Being able to support our airmen and their families, especially during the holidays, is what the Exchange is all about," she said.

For 130 years, the Exchange has served military families by providing goods and services at exclusive prices. This sweepstakes gave one military family something money usually can't buy: time together.

The Rodriguez family is now settled into their new North Dakota home with memories of a holiday season that exceeded every expectation.