6-37 FAR Celebrates Children’s Day, Bonds with local children

Photo By Maj. Daniel Parker | Capt. Zach Cox, Greece, N.Y. native, field artillery officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR), 210th Field Artillery Brigade, gently applies camouflage face paint to a boy's face from Dongducheon City at 6-37 FAR's Children’s Day event, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea, May 4, 2019. 6-37 FAR provided numerous games and activities for dozens of local children including dodgeball, tug-of-war, camouflage face painting and a static display of an M270 multiple launch rocket system. Every May 5th is designated as Children’s Day in South Korea, and this is a day on which people reemphasize the importance of children of all ages instilling a sense of national pride. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)  

CAMP CASEY, 41, SOUTH KOREA

05.04.2019

Story by Capt. Daniel Parker 

210th Field Artillery Brigade

CAMP CASEY, Republic of Korea – More than 130 Dongducheon City residents and Soldiers joined for an annual community event honoring Korean youth, May 4.

The 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade hosted a day of fun-filled activities in recognition of Children’s Day.

Children’s Day, celebrated May 5 in South Korea, is intended to reemphasize the importance of children of all ages, instilling a sense of national pride.

The 6-37 FAR teamed up with the People to People International Dongducheon chapter, four orphanages and a local church to bring nearly 100 small children a day of fun, food and community.

Chaplain (Capt.) Jeremy Lytle, chaplain, 6-37 FAR, and Elkton, Kentucky native, helped plan the event.

“We have 94 children here from four different orphanages and one church,” said Lytle.

The children enjoyed the scheduled activities, which included a duffle bag race, tug-of-war, dodgeball, face painting, bean bag toss and other games.

“We prepared games, food, static displays, and they’ve been playing on the playground,” said Lytle.

Camouflage face painting seemed to be a hit among the children. Capt. Zach Cox, field artillery officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 6-37 FAR, and Greece, New York native, organized the event.

“Oh, we had so much fun!” said Cox. “I absolutely loved the face painting. The idea came to me when the chaplain asked me, ‘What do you think kids would enjoy?’”

But to Cox the event was not just about face painting and games.

“It really brings the community together, especially when these kids see U.S. Army officers or U.S. Army enlisted,” said Cox. “I feel like these are stories they’re going to tell other kids.”

Through the U.S. Forces Korea Good Neighbor Program, 210th FAB continues to strengthen partnerships with the local community through events like Children’s Day.

Many local citizens supported the event to see the children have fun.

Mr. Kim, Hyung-ik, People to People International Dongducheon chapter president, expressed his enthusiasm for the day’s events and the partnership that exists between the community and the U.S. Army.

“It is good to work with the U.S. Army and incorporate these types of events with the community,” said Kim.

The Children’s Day event came together as the result of support from more than 130 local citizens, children and Soldiers demonstrating a benefit of the ROK-U.S. alliance at a local level.

• Date Taken: 05.04.2019
• Date Posted: 05.09.2019 23:47
• Story ID: 320713
• Location: CAMP CASEY, 41, KR
• Hometown: DONGDUCHEON, 41, KR
• Hometown: ELKTON, KY, US
• Hometown: GREECE, NY, US