JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Changing schools, making new friends and sometimes having a parent away for six or more months, can be difficult experiences school-aged children with military parents often face.
To help families through challenges that can come with service, Fort Eustis' Regimental Memorial Chapel hosts programs like the annual vacation bible school for military members and their families. This year, the school took place at the RMC on Fort Eustis, Virginia, July 13-17, 2015.
"We're here to support the community," said Genevieve Hughes, RMC Catholic religious education director, adding that the purpose of the school is to bring military families together to form lasting relationships as well as open their eyes to the support programs and opportunities the chapel offers to all.
This year the chapel's VBS, which is open to all denominations, focused on how science and religion relate.
Throughout the week, the students went through recreation, art and lab activities, which not only taught them this year's scientific theme, but helped students build friendships and camaraderie with one another.
For parents like U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alpan Risvanoglu, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 11th Battalion, 331st Cosway leading seaman, the social setting and team building the school provided his sons was exactly what he was hoping for.
"I really like the group setting and how all the kids worked together," said Risuanoglu adding that the school was a beneficial way for his children to interact with other military children while learning valuable life lessons in a safe place.
Along with teaching the week's lesson, chapel staff aimed to show the children and their families that the chapel is a support community that through programs like VBS helps the children build faith, team spirit, friendships and confidence.
"Especially in a military environment our experiences are much different, so we need to form a community within the community where people have others to lean on," Hughes said. "If you are dealing with transition, difficulties or changes in your life, these are the people that will have your back."
According to Hughes, while this year's VBS is complete, the chapel always has its doors open for the Joint Base Langley-Eustis community as a pillar of support.
For additional Joint Base Langley-Eustis spiritual, physical, mental and social resiliency services, visit
http://www.jble.af.mil/resiliencydirectory.asp. For more information about the chapel visit,
http://www.eustis.army.mil/ChaplainPage.asp.