In the News

Operation Military Kids:  April is the Month of the Military Child

by: Liz Kingsland

Children of America's finest are never forgotten, but oftentimes put in the backseat of the driving war effort because the effect of a parent's military service upon the child is often unheard.  Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger established the Defense Department commemoration "Month of the Military Child" in 1986 because he understood the challenges that military children face by having a parent serve in the Armed Forces.

In Hardin County, as well as across the country, we have a program called Operation Military Kids (OMK).   This program targets the children of National Guard and Reserve families – “Suddenly Military”.  All military children undergo hardships and face many obstacles by having a parent deployed for wide-ranging periods of time. The OMK kids face other hardships because their parent is usually only away from home one weekend a month or a couple of weeks in the summer.  These children may deal with many new conflicts and issues that they and their families have not faced before.   They are not prepared for the long deployment and how that affects their life.

On April 28th at the Radcliff City Parks we will be having a Family Picnic and Scavenger Hunt from 11-2 pm.  This program is for “Suddenly Military Kids”.  These children have deployed family members who are in the National Guard or a Reserve unit.  We ask that the families register with us at the Extension Service @ 765-4121, or by email to Liz.Kingsland@uky.edu or Marla.Stillwell@uky.edu.  We are also planning a summer camp for OMK children in July.  Please call for more information.

"In the last five years of my daughter's life, her Daddy has been away three years and at home only two, and sometimes I wonder how she even knows who he is?" said Tara Crooks of Army Talk Radio. "That's why connection even through the distance is so important."

"As spouses, we tend to have an easier time expressing our feelings," said Crooks. "Children are sometimes less vocal when it comes to the struggles of military lifestyle."

But these children are listened to and seen as heroes by the American Legion Auxiliary - the world's largest women's patriotic service organization. This year the Auxiliary is teaming up with America Supports You - to honor military children in April by sponsoring Month of the Military Child as designated by the Department of Defense.

The month's theme has been created, "to recognize and pay tribute to military children for their commitment, sacrifice and unconditional support shown to their parents, our men and women serving in the military," according to the Month of the Military Child Web site - www.monthofthemilitarychild.com.

Throughout April, the American Legion Auxiliary wants its members to support military children in each of their local communities. This includes providing therapeutic activities including arts and crafts for these children to work on by keeping their minds off of the fact that a parent is deployed.

"Being able to send photos and letters to my husband, allows Trey and Kobe to share memories with their father," said Felicia Robinson. "It means the world to us."

"Da Da is going to fight the bad guys but he'll be back soon," said Kobe Robinson, 5, whose father, Capt. James O. Robinson, is stationed at Camp Shelby, Miss. (Mobilization Station) training on Afghan survival tactics for his trip to Afghanistan from April 2007 to April 2008.