Melissa Cowsar | Nurse
Single mom of two daughters, nurse Melissa Cowsar calls Dripping Springs home and is one of four service members who sat down with us to share what their holidays look like, as their jobs often require time away from home on special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As a nine-year-old girl watching a hospice nurse faithfully care for her grandfather in his final days, Cowsar felt the call to serve others. She pulls from her life experience to pour into her patients who find themselves in the emergency room at their lowest points.
This compassion extends to her colleagues as well; Cowsar willingly spends time away from home during the holidays to ensure her co-workers can share those moments with their loved ones. “I know that by showing up on those days and sacrificing that time with my family, my teammates—who I work alongside in the trenches every single day—are getting to enjoy time with their family.”
Andrew Figer | Soldier
A Dripping Springs native, graduate of West Point, father of four, and United States Army Major, Andrew Figer is no stranger to sacrificing time with family to protect our nation. Shortly after marrying his bride Dana, Andrew deployed to Iraq in 2006, missing their first Christmas together and coming home for only two weeks each year.
With slow internet and no FaceTime, Andrew and his fellow soldiers waited in long lines during the holidays just for one 20-minute phone call with family. “Lines were the longest during the holidays,” shares Andrew. Christmas morning meant going on patrols before opening his gifts—mailed to him from home—by himself. Some soldiers would sport Santa hats and decorate their overseas quarters with their limited decorations.
The Figers’ faith kept them strong during these challenging times apart. “Having a relationship with God is the only thing that kept us going during deployments,” Dana says. “You have a lot of peace because you know God appointed us for this time to serve.”
Dana explains how much she missed Andrew when he was overseas. “While other wives may have been complaining about their husband’s dirty clothes all over the floor, I just wished there were dirty clothes on the floor because that would have meant he was home, and that’s all I wanted,” she confides.
When Andrew finally returned home, Dana says, “It was magical.” She left the Christmas decorations up until April so they could celebrate together. “During wartime, we celebrated things at all different times of the year.”
Evan Smith | Firefighter
Lieutenant Evan Smith of North Hays County Fire Rescue, a husband and new father, says, “One of the biggest downsides to this job is missing holidays and birthday parties.” He recalls that several years passed before he met many of his wife’s extended family members because he often worked holiday shifts.
When he can’t be home with his family, Smith feels the love of his community: “Our community is super generous. There’s hardly a holiday where people don’t drop off meals and treats.”
Driven by a dedication to his duty, Smith says, “Ultimately, I love my job. My passion keeps me going.”
Jon McKane | Paramedic
A husband and father of four, paramedic and captain of operations Jon McKane has served with San Marcos Hays County EMS (operating as North Hays EMS in Dripping Springs) for eight years. “All of us who signed up for this job are constantly being taken away from our families for extended periods to serve our communities … and emergencies don’t stop on holidays.”
McKane shares that being away from home can feel isolating, but he and his crew share a special bond: “We have a lot of camaraderie here and enjoy holiday meals together as a work family.”
Assistant chief and mom of four Jill Rosales adds, “Sometimes working holidays sucks, but being with people who have grown to be your family is the best consolation.”