KMC festival celebrates Month of the Military Child

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jocelyn L. Rich
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PULASKI BARRACKS, Germany --  Organizations throughout the Kaiserslautern Military Community 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 demonstrations, martial arts demonstrations, craft tables, free food, organized sports, music and much more.

"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 number one 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 Calvin, 3, and Noah, 18 months. "I'm on the Parent Advisory Board and was involved when we were stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. It is important to show that the Air Force cares about what happens with the kids."

The festival has been hosted by the U.S. Army since 1986, but this is the second year that the Army and Air Force have combined their efforts to provide a larger event to support the entire KMC.

"It makes sense," said Dorothy Choate, 86th SVS Family Members Programs chief. "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."

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 need family members the ability to play side-by-side with other children -- something that hit home to former U.S. Army first sergeant Michelle Thomas,.

"This project has been in the works a little over a year," said Ms. Thomas, who is also 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. It was important to combine the opening of the playground with the event. It's another way for us to show the families how important they are and not leave any one out."

Thanks to the cooperation and joint efforts of numerous KMC organizations, the kid's festival was a success. Those involved look forward to continuing the tradition by showing families the many other services offered within the community not just now, but year round.

"We advertise a lot in a good way," said Mr. Cobb. "It's a way for us to show the families what is out there for them. We just want to get as many families out as possible and just have fun."

"We are some 53,000 strong in the area and had about 4,000 folks throughout the day come out," said Ms. Choate. "It's a great turn out and we look forward to continuing this tradition. Our children are the true heroes and they should be celebrated."