Photo By Sgt. Ariana Cary | Pfc. Jessica Munivong, a signal system support specialist with the Headquarters...... read more read more
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SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Soldiers with the HHBN, 25th ID, visited the classrooms to read to the students, March 1, at Hale Kula Elementary School, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The visit was part of the Read Across America program in which soldiers volunteer to read to children in their classrooms every year.
“This program is priceless,” said Janet Huszar, a librarian assistant of the Hale Kula school library for twenty years. “I think it’s really good for the soldiers as much as it is for the kids. A lot of them don’t have children, they’re really young. And when you’re away from home, like they are, it’s nice to kind of feel like you’re part of a family, even if it’s just for a day.”
Huszar talked about how one year in which one soldier picked out his books to read and took them home to practice reading out loud. He called his mother, a librarian, to tell her. She was so proud of him for doing the program, said Huszar. And the soldier’s mother had him read the books to her over the phone several times and gave her son tips on how to make it more interesting and meaningful.
“He came in the day the soldiers were to read to the kids and told me,” said Huszar. “She gave him advice on when to raise his voice or speak quietly. She taught him to read with expression. It turned into a bonding experience with this soldier and his mom.”
Sometimes parents who volunteer for the program are able to read to their children's classes. At first the kids are embarrassed, said Huszar. but they also get excited and proud that it’s their mom or dad reading to their class.
“I really enjoyed coming out to read to them,” said Sgt. Crystal Salazar, a team leader with Headquarters Support Company, 25th Infantry Division. “I actually got to read to both of the classes my kids are in. All the kids already knew who I was. And I was welcomed with open arms.”
Salazar read to a kindergarten and first grade class. After she finished reading, her daughter had had so much fun she asked Salazar if they could get the books for home.
“My kids loved it,” she said. “They want me to read the books again for bedtime.”
The program allows children to see that adults love reading. It encourages them to love reading, too, Huszar said. “Reading opens up their world.”
The Read Across America program is one way the Army interacts with our nation’s future, the children.
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2013 18:57 |
| Story ID: | 102964 |
| Location: | SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Reading Across America, by SGT Ariana Cary, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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