FORT HOOD, Texas - Just how do we get to Sesame Street?
It’s a 45-year-old question that many of us now know the answer to. The United Services Organization brought beloved Sesame Street characters to Fort Hood for the Sesame Street Experience for Military Families Sept. 9-10 at Palmer Theater. Children sang and danced along with Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster and the gang.
But this show wasn’t just any show that could be seen anywhere, the Sesame Street crew brought along a new friend who understood hardships some military children undergo. Her name was Katie and the theme of the show is centered on her character.
According to the Sesame Street tour release, Katie was first introduced to military families by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden at a Joining Forces rally in Columbus, Ohio in April 2011.
“The first version of the this show in 2008 dealt more with deployments and what it’s like if mom or dad is gone for a long time and they come back a little different or injured,” said Nicole McClendon, USO tour manager for the Sesame Street Experience for military families. “But in 2011, we introduced a very special Muppet named Katie.”
So why is Katie so special?
“Katie happens to be a military child herself, so our military families come to the show and our youngest military family member can see someone who is just like them on stage,” McClendon said.
This year, the show will go to 69 military installations and 32 states making Fort Hood stop number 53 on the tour. Scott Air Force base was first on this year’s tour.
“We’ve been to over 140 military installations, 11 countries, and 33 states since 2008 when the tours first began,” said McClendon.
The shows first started out of a DVD series called “Talk, Listen and Connect,” that highlighted the partnership between Sesame Street and the USO. The DVD was distributed free to military families. It dealt with a lot of the issues that some military families may face before, during and after deployments.
McClendon said, “We had such a great success with that, that Sesame Street and the USO decided to come up with a live version of the DVD and tour it to all of our military families.”
Palmer Theater was filled with children and parents laughing, singing and dancing, but the level of excitement increased the moment Elmo stepped on stage.
Madison Durrance, a 4-year-old little girl, screamed the moment Elmo walked out on stage.
“Elmo!” she shouted as her stuffed Elmo sat right beside her both on her mother’s lap.
“She loves to watch Sesame Street,” said Sandy Durrance, Madison mother.
Madison was not the only Elmo admirer in the crowded theater.
Sgt. Antoinette Johnson, an information systems operator with Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, III Corps, said her son’s favorite character is Elmo. So he was extremely excited when Elmo came on stage.
Although many children like Elmo, McClendon hopes for a new character to become the kids’ favorite.
“I’d like to think that at the end of the show Katie ends up being the favorite because military children can really identify with her,” said McClendon. “I hear kids saying… Wow! Katie is getting ready to move too or Katie gets sad too, so she goes through similar stuff they go through.”
For McClendon the show isn’t just a teaching point on dealing with hardships faced by military children, it is much, much more.
McClendon recalled a cherished memory from the Sept. 9 showing.
“Just before this show started a little girl hugged me and told me thank you for bringing Elmo to see me. Not only do I enjoy what I do because of the accolades we receive from our youngest viewers, but also the smiles on their faces as they’re leaving. I’d like to think of this show as our way of saying thank you to them that we understand what they are going through.”
Not only do military children get the opportunity to meet the Sesame Street gang but they also get lots of free items.
McClendon explains the free items handed out before and after the show.
“Before the show all of the kids get the Elmo spinning light and everyone gets a USO bandana. We also have some flyers on how parents can get their free series of Talk, Listen and Connect. We give out stickers on the 'Big Moving and Adventures.' It’s an app for families that are getting ready to move or PCS. There are also several other goodies such as magnets, activity books and stickers all catered for the military family.”
“It’s nice to get so many free items,” said Johnson. “My son absolutely loved the Elmo spinning light.”
McClendon added, for more great resources, free downloads and information geared toward military families visit www.uso.org/sesame. There’s also a schedule of where Katie and Elmo are going next.