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Organizations throughout the KMC came together to host a festival supporting Month of the Military Child here April 24.
The intent of the festival was to create a family friendly environment where all members were able to get together and enjoy the day.
“Our goal is to create a forum where parents can bring their children and spend some quality time with them,” said Claudia Pauley, Landstuhl Youth Center, Child Youth and School Services. “We wanted to show them how special and what an
important part of the family they are.”
The festival included a variety of events and activities such as live acts, military working dog and martial arts demonstrations, craft tables, free food, organized sports and music.
“This is the third event that we have been to this month,” said Tech. Sgt. Sherman Paul, 24th Intelligence Squadron unit deployment manager. “Servicemembers are on call 24/7 and the kids take the brunt of that. This gives us a chance to take a break and show the kids we really appreciate them being there.”
Military members spend a large portion of their time supporting mission around the world away from their families. The festival provided an opportunity for families to get together and focus on one of the military’s top priorities — families.
“The effects of deployments on children are our No. 1 concern,” said Mark Cobb, 86th Services Squadron Vogelweh Youth Programs director. “Military members sacrifice and deploy, of course. But the kids sacrifice just as much.”
“We feel very strongly about parent involvement with the children of the military community,” said Staff Sgt. Sandi Wellman, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band clarinet player and mother of two. “It is important to show that the Air Force cares about what happens with the kids.”
The festival has been hosted by the Army since 1986, but this is the second year the Army and Air Force have combined their efforts to provide a larger event to support the entire KMC.
“We are proud to be partnered with the Army garrison for the second year. We’re a true ‘purple community’ and pooling our efforts makes it easier to service a large community,” said Dorothy Choate, 86th SVS Family Members Programs chief.
One of the highlights of the festival was the ribbon cutting of the first boundless playground in Europe.
The boundless playground is a place that allows special needs family members to play side-by-side with other children.
“This project has been in the works a little over a year,” said former U.S. Army first sergeant Michelle Thomas, who is the mother of a 16-year-old high school sophomore with congenital heart disease. “There are about 40 installations around the world and we have the first in Europe.”
Thanks to the cooperation and joint efforts of numerous KMC organizations, the festival was a success.
“It’s a way for us to show the families what is out there for them,” Mr. Cobb said. “We just want to get as many families out as possible and just have fun.”
“It’s a great turn out and we look forward to continuing this tradition,” Ms. Choate said. “Our children are the true heroes and they should be celebrated.”
To see photos of the Month of the Military Child activities, visit www.ramstein.af.mil.
