A Star Spangled Baby Shower

Earlier this week, in partnership with GovCIO, the Capitals hosted a 'Star Spangled Baby Shower' for six expectant military moms from Operation Homefront.

Operation Homefront is a national non-profit that serves America's military families, and baby showers are a part of their recurring support programming.

They identify expectant mothers whose due dates are within the in the next six months or who have had a child in the previous six months and purchase necessary baby items for them to help alleviate their financial burden.
The person leading the charge for this community event? Kristen Laviolette.
Laviolette first started working with Operation Homefront while her husband Peter Laviolette was the Head Coach of the Nashville Predators.
"Kristen reached out to us and was extremely eager in having this event with the Capitals so here we are today celebrating these moms," said Nicole Blackstone, Program Coordinator for Operation Homefront.
Together with Operation Homefront and Kristen Laviolette, the Capitals put together a beautiful baby shower (and sprinkle for some of the moms) at China Chilcano in Downtown D.C.

"To host a military baby shower is something that's very special to me," said Laviolette. We've done this in the past with previous teams and to be able to shower a bunch of military moms in our community and know that you're making a difference in their lives is really special."
Laviolette gathered up the rest of the Capitals better halves to help support this event in different ways.
One way was with a 'wrapping party' at Sydney Kuemper's house during an away game where they bonded and wrapped gifts for the shower.
Additionally, more than 10 of the Caps significant others attended the shower on Tuesday which included delicious food, typical baby shower games, and opening gifts.

The gifts, generously donated by GovCIO, came directly from each mom's Amazon registry.
"GovCIO is honored to help provide these amazing military moms with crucial items they need to best prepare for their impending births. We thank them for the sacrifices they've made for our country and hope our small contribution has helped make their lives a little easier," Erin Mirsky, GovCIO Senior Vice President.
The military moms weren't really sure what to anticipate the event being like, but it ended up far exceeding their expectations.
"I was expecting something small, a couple of gifts and food nothing too extravagant," said Karen Grant, who is a Sergeant in the D.C. Army National Guard. "I came in, I saw the decorations and gifts was I was like 'wow'."

The Caps wives also had the opportunity to mingle with the military moms and learn more about their stories and connect on some common ground.
"I think you realize as the wife of a professional athlete, the sacrifice that goes into not living near where your family is and sometimes not knowing if your husband's going to be there for the birth of your child," Lindsay Hathaway said.
This is also often the case for expecting military moms, and while professional athletes aren't in danger like those who serve, Hathaway believes they share many similarities with the military wives.

For Kristen and Lindsay, moving around and creating a sense of community in new cities that their husbands play or coach in has always been incredibly important and having the ability to help other women that may be experiencing similar situations is very special to them.
"We hope that we're filling the gap for these moms knowing that they are surrounded by a community that supports them," Laviolette said.
"Having community and other women around you going through the same thing is really powerful," Hathaway said.
The military moms also feel the same way.
"It feels good to know that there's a little support out there that you weren't even counting on or aware of," said Grant.