Aviano Exchange Celebrates Military Spouse’s $10,000 Shopping Spree
For Air Force military spouse Brentnee Conaway, an ordinary lunch turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity thanks to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.
Conaway won a $10,000 shopping spree at the Aviano Air Base Exchange through Subway’s Sip. Rip. Ultimate Trip sweepstakes.
Air Force Col. Christopher Busque, commander, 31st Mission Support Group, along with Italy Exchange General Manager Jennifer Jordan, presented Conaway and her family with the $10,000 shopping spree mock check Jan. 9.
Air Force Col. Christopher Busque (left), commander, 31st Mission Support Group, stands with Brentnee Conaway (fourth from left) and her family during a $10,000 shopping spree mock-check presentation Jan. 9 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. (Courtesy photo)
“My first thought was that there are so many people who could use this more,” Conaway said. “We have taken this as a huge blessing.”
After grabbing lunch from Subway, Conaway arrived home later that day and was about to toss her drink into the garbage when she, at the last minute, decided to pull the sweepstakes tab from the cup.
“I was in shock and decided to call the manager to make sure it was real,” Conaway said. “I couldn’t believe I was just going to throw it away.”
Conaway and her husband, Senior Airman Logan Conaway, a ground transportation specialist with the 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron, are childhood sweethearts from Salem, Missouri, who have been married for four years.
“We arrived in Italy just before COVID struck, so it’s been quite a ride,” she said. “We are taking it one day at a time and are enjoying all of the family time we are able to have right now.”
Because of COVID, Conaway worked with Aviano Main Exchange Store Manager Diana Krieger to compile a shopping list before going on her spree.
“We are always excited when we can celebrate our military families,” Krieger said. “We are thrilled to honor Brentnee and her family with this shopping spree.”
Senior Airman Logan Conaway said the win has been a shock, but he had only one item he wanted to be placed on the shopping list.
“I don’t care as long as I get a bigger television,” he said, laughing.
The sweepstakes was part of the Exchange’s 125th anniversary celebration, which commemorated its “we go where you go” mission.
“There’s no one more deserving than our military and their families,” Krieger said. “We are privileged to be part of a family serving family organization.”
