Liberty Wing honors military’s youngest heroes

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond
  • 512th Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, del. --  The Liberty Wing recognized the "Month of the Military Child" by dedicating a day to honor the children of military members here April 5. 

"The purpose of this event is to salute our young heroes," said Master Sgt. Linda Berry, Airman and Family Readiness NCO in charge and event assistant. "These children are making a sacrifice by having military parents." 

The 512th Airlift Wing Airman and Family Readiness and the Kent County 4-H Club, which promotes positive youth development and engages youth in the work of their community, sponsored the occasion. Airmen and 4-H members assisted children of both Reserve and active-duty members from Dover Air Force Base and surrounding military families throughout the day. 

Children began their day at the Youth Center where they engaged in games including basketball, floor hockey and what the 4-H refers to as "get to know you games." The group then moved to Eagles Lanes for bowling and a pizza-party lunch. The day concluded with a movie presentation at the base theater. 

In 1986, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger recognized the importance of military-connected children and their role in military families when he established April as "Month of the Military Child" in a Defense Department commemoration. 

"The wing does something every year to recognize the 'Month of the Military Child,' but this is the first year that we're having a day-long event like this," said Tech. Sgt. Mariah Krass, 512th Readiness NCO and event assistant. "By getting the children, especially ones who live out of the area, involved, they get to see a few of the different aspects of what goes on here-- using an identification card to get on base and being around the aircrafts, for example." 

The children enjoyed all the activities, and the Kent County 4-H organization would like to see this event occur next year, said Lauren Thompson, 4-H program assistant. Both 

Ms.Thompson and Tasha Cooper, another 4-H program assistant involved in the event, said they felt this occasion provided not only fun but good exposure of the 4-H program to the children.