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Show Hilltop TWs July 8. 2004 Youth program unites children from military families for fun, support by Beth Young Hilltop Times staff Children from all branches of the military, some from as far away as Washington, gathered at the Hill Youth Center last week for Operation Purple. The week long program is sponsored by The National Military Family Association with financial help from the Sears American Dream Campaign. It's designed to bring military children together, so that they can learn from each other how to deal with the stress their parent's deployments can cause. "This allows them to meet kids in similar situations and develop a support network," said Oral Arlington, assistant youth activ-- . ities director. The 49 children who attended spent their nights in tents on the Youth Center lawn and spent their days getting to know each other while participating in many activities, from bowling and fishing to journal writing and just hanging out. "It has been fun. I have met a lot of new friends," said Alysa Birdsall, who is from Colorado and has a parent in the Air National Guard. Photos by Beth Young One of the activities the children attending Operation Purple participated in was making packages to send to deployed troops. They included the essentials like soap and shampoo, below. Most of the children also wrote letters thanking the military members for their service. Along with the kids having a great time, the counselor's have witnessed what the program is all about the children turning to each other as a possible long term support system. "On their own, we have seen them exchanging phone numbers and addresses, setting up a pen pal network," Mr. Arlington said. "The program is a good way to meet new friends who have the same experiences," added Hailey Berch, who is from Hill. Towards the end of their stay the children made deployment kits and wrote letters to send to the troops. With many parents currently deployed a lot of the participants were asking if they could send the kits to their mom or dad. This opened up discussions for the children, as they began to ask each other where their dad was deployed or how long he had been gone. "If s cool to meet other military children. If you feel sad because your mom or dad is gone, you can talk to them," said Mackenzie Ventrane, also from Hill. Along with many new friends, all the attendees received a uniform with hat, a sleeping bag and journal. Operation Purple is provided at no cost, and is so named because purple is traditionally the color used to represent all branches of the military. f 6 ; i , , LiG&fcP a The kids seem to love it. They wish it was two weeks instead of one. Oral Arlington r7 it ' V 1 Each of the program attendees received shorts, shirts and hats to wear during their adventure. Journey of Hope Photos by Beth Young The Hill AFB Youth Center members were entertained the Push America by "Journey of Hope" bicycling team's "Kids on the Block" puppet show last week. The puppet show's mission is to 1 it teach children about others Hill is one with disabilities. of many stops on the team's y route. and The team is made up of undergraduate members of the Phi Kappa Phi fraternity from college campuses across the country. Through "Journey of Hope" members of the fraternity raise funds and awareness on behalf of people with te Booklet helps kids understand deployment by Donna Miles American Forces Press Service 120-cit- WASHINGTON Separations can be tough on any child whose parent is deployed overseas but particularly for the estimated 500,000 sons and daughters of deployed National Guard and reserve troops, according to an expert on issues involving military families. supMany Guard and reserve families lack the tight-knfamilies durport network that helps ing deployments, said Mary Keller, executive director of the Military Child Education Coalition. This can lead to difficulty adjusting to what Keller calls their "suddenly military" status. As a result, she said, they can feel isolated and unsure of where to turn for help. it active-compone- nt A new Military Child Education Coalition booklet is chock-fuof ideas to help communities reach out to reserve and Guard families during their family member's deployment. Keller said the coalition produced the booklet after repeated requests from military-familrepresentatives, educators ll y and community groups. The brochure, "How Communities Can Support the Children and Families of Those Serving in the National Guard and Reserves," explains the dynamics of the deployment process in language. It offers tips for educators and lists military and community resources for families of deployed troops. Keller said the brochure serves as a companion guide to another popular coalition publication. "How to Prepare Our Children and Stay Involved in Their Education During Deployment." That guide is a favorite of first lady Laura Bush, whom Keller said has read from it during visits to military bases. Both booklets reflect the courageous spirit Keller said children of deployed troops demonstrate every day. "Our goal is to help them through this transition in their lives and this period of separation," she said. The publications and more information about the Military Child Education Coalition are posted on the coalition's. Web site. 12-pa- to During tne program, tne audience was encouraged nave i boutI disabilities and those who pets questions ww I I ' |