JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Madison Child Development Center preschoolers celebrated Month of the Military Child, with special guests Col. Chesley D. Thigpen, Jr., 733rd Mission Support Group commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Muriel Macdonald, April 16.
Month of the Military Child is celebrated each year in April, to bring awareness to the unique aspects of military childhood. These children face challenges such as extended family separations, frequent moves and the stress of deployments.
Thigpen and MacDonald, donned in purple, read “The Rocket Ship Bed Trip” and “Catch My Breath” to two groups of preschoolers, age’s three to five. The color purple symbolizes all branches of the military and when worn in April, it signifies support of military children and their resiliency.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Jennifer Barker, Fort Eustis Child and Youth Programs flight chief, had to get creative in planning activities to honor military children, when typically the month would be filled with in-person events.
“Month of the Military Child is always our biggest event,” Barker shared. “In April 2020, we had the biggest event planned to date. It was combining forces with Langley, and many of the services on base.” COVID-19 quickly changed those plans.
In late March 2020, the program had been reduced to serving 30 participants, the children of mission essential personnel only. The team adjusted quickly, providing over 100 virtual activities such as workouts and programming for parents to do with their children at home.
This year, COVID-19 did not stop the team from celebrating military children. With safety measures in mind, Barker continued to plan quality activities for the kids to enjoy.
Barker’s commitment to Military children and families has not gone unnoticed. She recently won 733rd Civilian Supervisor of the Quarter, and went on to win Civilian of the Year which came as a “huge surprise,” she said.
For Barker, every month is Month of the Military Child; she is proud to play her part in supporting the mission. “It's an amazing experience,” she said, “it gets your blood flowing knowing the difference you make every day.”
For more information about child and youth programs and services, please call 757-878-4025 or 1564.