Book reading tells a larger story during military child month

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joe McFadden
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Nearly 100 children and their families attended the Military Child Education Coalition's "Tell Me a Story" program hosted by the Airman & Family Readiness Center's School Liaison Program at the Hurlburt Field Youth Center April 25.

The story, "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot" by Margot Theis Raven, centered on a young girl in West Berlin and her experience with then-1st Lt. Gail Halvorsen who parachuted candy and gum to children during the Berlin Airlift.

The event included a special reading of "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot" by Maj. Gen. Kurt Cichowski, Air Force Special Operations Command vice commander, who said many of the MCEC's programs like their student-to-student, parent-to-parent and living in a new normal series have helped many children in school deal with deployments and absence.

"All too often, we focus on a thing or concept that sometimes we forget those who mean the most to us: our families," General Cichowski said. "And this is an opportunity to focus programs, participation and an effort on our children and, quite frankly, our future, and it's appropriate to do that with great events like this."

And within the Year of the Air Force Family, it's fitting the event happened in April, a month dedicated to military children. Throughout the month, the base sponsored dozens of events for children from its kickoff during the annual "Family Fest and Egg Hunt" at the Community Park April 3 to "Military Dress-up Day" at the Child Development Center April 8 to show support for their parents, siblings, relatives and friends in the military.

After the reading, children made candy parachutes and assembled wooden airplanes similar to the ones in the book. Many children like 7-year-old Zachry Sheppard said they enjoyed the event's activities.

"I liked it," he said. "The story was cool, and making the planes and parachutes was fun, too."

Although they may not wear the uniform, military children like Zachry are required to adapt to the changes and endure the burdens that come with that responsibility and privilege.

Despite their different backgrounds, their situations are similar: many have moved around the country, made new friends, said goodbye to old ones and had to part with loved ones during deployments.

His mother, Lt. Col. Theresa Sheppard, 1st Special Operations Comptroller Squadron commander, said it was nice to put the focus on the family.

"Being a commander, there are a lot of times you can see how being in the military may be a challenge for the family," she said. "I know when I was deployed that it was easier on me than for my family back home. But it's that circle of the military, the service member and their family looking out for each other that is so important to it all."

One of the volunteer facilitators at the reading was Airman 1st Class Reggie Mooreman, 2nd Combat Weather Systems Squadron, who said he helped because he wanted to help the children and their families.

"I know their parents may be deployed, so this is something I can do to help them out," Airman Mooreman said. "It's also fun to come out here and let anyone who feels left out know that they're not forgotten."

Airman Mooreman said the event taking place within the context of the Month of the Military Child made volunteering more special.
"This is our way to show the children we appreciate them and they still affect a lot of people by playing an important role in our Air Force family," he said.

At the end of the book discussion, each family received a complimentary copy of the book with the option of having it signed by General Cichowski.

"I hope it was as educational for them as it was fun for me," General Cichowski said.

According to the MCEC Web site, the program is an initiative created to empower military children by using literature and their own stories to foster skills for resilience, strong peer and parent connections, a sense of pride and accomplishment and a caring community.