MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (April 1) -- Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s Marine Corps Community Services hosted a “Wee Play” event at Miller’s Landing for the Month of the Military Child April 1.
Month of the Military Child is an opportunity to recognize military children and youth for their heroism, character, courage, sacrifices and continued resilience. Marine Corps children and youth are major contributors to the facbric of strength of the Marine Corps today, tomorrow and everyday.
To celebrate this, children came together and competed in look-alike competitions with their parents, diaper derbies, toddler trots, and generally had a good time at the event.
Two buffet lines were set up for participants to eat, one giving out more adult-type food like spaghetti, and the other featuring children’s food like macaroni and cheese with chicken nuggets. When the families went back to their tables, the children used crayons to draw tapestries on the paper table covers.
Outside, there were two inflatable bounce houses that the children thoroughly enjoyed. Also, MCCS handed out goldfish as rewards to children who took part in events.
The purpose of the event was to honor the smallest members of the military community, according to Brenda Mitchell, the new parent support program manager.
According to Master Sgt. Bryan Brown, the supply and logistics chief for Marine Aircraft Group 14, everything is all about the children.
“For me, Month of the Military Child is about the kids,” said Brown. “It’s their health, their safety, their education and ultimately their future.”
Brown’s wife, Maria, said that being a military family can be a challenge. According to her, with one parent deployed the other has to run the whole show without much support from the other spouse. She may need a break at times, but she always has to keep up the show of strength for the good of the children.
Bryan went on to talk about the challenges of being a military family as well, such as being deployed when his children took their first steps. In the end, however, he believes those challenges are worth it.
“We have the support structure that a lot of civilians do not have,” Bryan said. “Whether it’s medical, the chaplains, MCCS, military housing, there’s always somebody there to share the family concept amongst us.”
MCCS Cherry Point and the new parent support program will host several events during April to support the Month of the Military Child. April 9, Camp Desert Kids at the Cherry Tree House will show children whose parents are deployed what it’s like on deployment. Comedian Trevor Romain will make a tour of Cherry Point and the surrounding area April 12-13 to speak to children in schools about how to face the unique challenges of being a military child. He will also speak with parents about the challenges of raising a military child.