Photo By Sgt. Rodney Foliente | Maj. Gregory Jacobsen, executive officer, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Rodney Foliente
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. – Approximately 550 children of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, received stuffed toy bears with pressure activated recordings of their Soldier-parents on June 14 at Fort Carson.
The Warhorse Brigade, which is slated to deploy to Iraq this fall, hosted the event with regional Build-a-Bear representatives working to bring wonder to the children, as their bears were prepared and sewed up before their eyes.
Four-year-old Ireland laughed and giggled with wide eyes as she reached for her bear which spoke with the voice of her father, Staff Sgt. Daniel Kemp, motorpool sergeant, Troop D, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment.
"This is great," said Kemp as he looked fondly at his daughter. "It lifts up her spirits. This way she'll always have my voice with her wherever I go."
Brigade volunteers and Build-a-Bear representatives worked side-by-side to personalize the bears, which received different features and trimmings at each station, including the voice recordings, hearts, birth certificates and cardboard homes.
"This event is awesome for the children," said Lela Leday, a volunteer at the event and Family Readiness Group member for 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment. As her Family prepares for her husband's deployment, their four children, ranging from 4-13 years old, are getting their bears.
"Every time they want to hear their daddy's voice, they can go to their bears. It's like having daddy right there with them," said Leday.
The bears will help the children and other Family members cope with the separation of deployment, said Connie Kallerson, 2nd BCT Family Readiness Support Assistant.
"These bears are something tangible that the children can hold onto when they miss their mothers and fathers and listen to their voices when they need to," said Kallerson.
The event benefited the Soldiers as well as the children and Family members.
"I think it boosts the Soldiers' morale to know they have the support of the community as well as Family and friends," said Leday.
The Build-a-Bear workers said they were happy to volunteer their time to show their support for the Soldiers and their Families.
"This is our way of saying, 'We love you and what you're doing for our country. Thank you,'" said Dawn Coleman, Loveland Build-a-Bear chief workshop manager.
"It's our pleasure to be here," added Robin May, Chapel Hills Build-a-Bear chief workshop manager, who also co-coordinated the event with Kallerson and FRG members. "I'm glad to do something for these Soldiers who do so much but ask for so little."
At the station where she worked, Soldiers, spouses and children actively participated in the magic as they performed love dances and placed their love within hearts that were then sewn inside the bears.
"Cool," whispered a little boy after his father placed the love-laden heart within his bear.
At another corner of the room, a little girl repeatedly pressed her bear, smiling as she listened to her father's voice say how much he loved her.
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2008 19:14 |
| Story ID: | 20660 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 147 |
This work, Helping Families 'bear' through deployment, by SGT Rodney Foliente, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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