Photo By Sgt. Jacqueline Pryor | Children and parents gather around to watch Pallaber the Clown's magic show during the...... read more read more
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By Spc. Jacqueline M. Pryor
82nd Abn. Div. PAO
FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Smiles replaced sad looks on the faces of children with deployed parents while Pallaber the Clown performed magic tricks, Feb. 24, at Lee Physical Fitness Center.
The 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team Family Readiness Group organized a children's deployment fair for the Paratroopers and families of the 2nd BCT.
"One day it occurred to me that we have deployment fairs for adults, but not for the children," said Patsy Hicks, 2nd BCT Family Readiness Support Assistant.
"So, with the help of the Fort Bragg Army Community Service office, we were able to reserve several different agencies to come out and provide information for parents, while the children play and, hopefully, have a good time," Hicks said.
"This is a way to give the parents an outlet for their children to be carefree, for a few hours," said Lisa Meyers, wife of Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Meyers, the 2nd BCT command sergeant major. "We have crafts, two jumping castles, and Pallaber the Clown to perform two magic shows, to keep the children busy and at least take their minds off the deployment for a day."
It's nice for the kids to have time to take their minds off their parents being away, said April Turcottle, wife of Sgt. Brad Turcottle, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT.
"This is very creative for the children, and a great way for parents to get information," Turcottle said.
Some of the agencies represented at the fair included the Fayetteville Children's Museum; the 4 H-Club; Child Youth Services; Girl Scouts; Army Community Service; Boy Scouts; Armed Service YMCA; Vidi Connect; Fire Department/EMT; MWR; Family Advocacy Program; Red Cross; Employment Readiness; DARE; Throckmorton Library; and Ident-A-Kid.
This is the first ever children's deployment fair held by the 2nd BCT, and we hope it will grow and catch on with other units, said Meyers.
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2007 12:48 |
| Story ID: | 9269 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 268 |
| Downloads: | 162 |
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