Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond
111th Attack Wing Public Affairs
HORSHAM AIR GUARD STATION, Pa. – Just in time for the onset of the 111th Attack Wing’s year of continuous deployments and temporary duty (TDY) assignments, the Liberty USO kicked off United Through Reading here March 8.
The goal of United Through Reading is to bond military families during physical separation, maintaining a connection by reading aloud together.
With 200 locations worldwide, this nonprofit public benefit organization functions by video recording service members reading books to their children. Those recordings are then mailed to the members’ families, along with the books that were read – creating the opportunity for children to watch the video while reading along with the deployed military member. The intention is to create and maintain the emotional union within the family.
The Liberty USO, which serves Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, began working with the organization more than 10 years ago. Programs like this illustrate the National Guard’s commitment to supporting Guard families.
“During a deployment, this program can be an important part of the member’s connection to their kids,” said Kristen Lowe, the Liberty USO eastern regional manager. “The kids can see their loved one -- their parent or caregiver -- still reading to them. And I think that a child seeing their deployed parent’s face is priceless.”
Lowe said she believes that military members benefit by continuing to play an active role in their children’s lives, despite being separate by thousands of miles. While this helps maintain the family bond, it also keeps deployed military involved in children’s literary growth.
The combination of literacy progression and emotional connection may be why United Through Reading earned the 2016 Community Service Hero Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
For the Liberty USO, this program is part of their mission of supporting both military members and families. MJ Flammer, Liberty USO Southern New Jersey regional manager, said that this program offers another means to provide comfort and care to the smallest ones serving – military children.
“This is a way for children to remember their loved one’s demeanor, their voice, their presence – it keeps the parent or caregiver in the child’s home.”
Flammer also stated that she believes it helps to inspire members while serving in their deployed locations. By maintaining a strong bond between the service member and their family, the National Guard can preserve resiliency – helping ensure mission success.
The Liberty USO’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families. By utilizing United Through Reading, they can nurture the scholastics and souls of the military children.
“Reading to a child is just so heartfelt,” said Lowe. “You can see in their face that they’re learning, but it’s also so endearing. It’s a special moment; and we’re so happy to provide a piece of that moment to our service member and families.”
| Date Taken: |
03.08.2017 |
| Date Posted: |
03.09.2017 14:30 |
| Story ID: |
226343 |
| Location: |
HORSHAM, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: |
185 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Deployed Pennsylvania ANG families remain united through USO initiative, by Andria Allmond, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Subscribe
