Littoral Combat Ship Family Member Named Operation Homefront 2018 Navy Military Child of the Year

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Hilkowski | 171205-N-ZF498-063 SAN DIEGO (Dec. 5, 2017) – USS Coronado (LCS-4) returns to homeport after an 18-month deployment. The first Independence-variant littoral combat ship to deploy, Coronado operated in Southeast Asia for 14 months and worked with 16 navies, participated in 11 exercises, made 10 strategic port visits and successfully fired a Harpoon surface-to-surface missile, striking a target beyond visual range. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony N. Hilkowski/Released)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

03.01.2018

Story by Lt. Miranda Williams 

Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1

SAN DIEGO (February 28, 2018) – A USS Coronado (LCS 4) Blue Crew family member has been named 2018 Navy Military Child of the Year by the national nonprofit organization Operation Homefront.

Isabelle Richards will receive her award at a Washington D.C. gala in April, during which she will also receive $10,000 and a laptop computer, in addition to other donated gifts.

Isabelle is one of seven children chosen as a Military Child of the Year awardee. She is the daughter of Senior Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician James Richards and Lorraine Richards, who serves as the crew’s Ombudsman. The award recognizes the exceptional achievements and innovation of military children, ages 13 to 18, in light of the challenges of military life.

Isabelle, age 14, attends High Tech Middle School in San Diego and gives back to her community as a peer counselor at her school and through volunteering at USO’s. Isabelle has been dancing competitively for six years and recently started participating in pageants. Her involvement in the community and experiences as a leader at such a young age enabled her to combine her personal skills with philanthropy and founded her own Non-Governmental Organization, Cards and Cupcakes. Cards and Cupcakes provides baked goods and hand written cards to wounded warriors across the country.

The Richards have six children; their four eldest children have all served in the armed forces, and one of their children was also named the 2012 Navy Military Child of the Year.

For more news from Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE, visit http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lcsron1/Pages/default.aspx

• Date Taken: 03.01.2018
• Date Posted: 03.01.2018 08:20
• Story ID: 267681
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US
• Hometown: JAMUL, CA, US