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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Jan 5, 2009 - 8:24:33 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Capt. Mohamad Umar, who hails from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, shows off the book he read to his three children, Where the Wild Things Are, on Camp Taji Aug. 12. Umar serves as a battalion flight physicians assistant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Kathryn Rains, 3rd Bn., 4th Avn. Regt., CAB, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – As deployments have remained consistent for Soldiers and Family members of the 4th Infantry Division, separation has been the common place.
To aid in strengthening the separated Family relationships, the United through Reading program is the nation’s first nonprofit entity to promote the “read aloud” experience for separated Families.
The program fosters communication between deployed Soldiers and their children, siblings, nieces, nephews or those to whom they are a mentor.
“If we make a difference in one Soldier’s life and possibly that of his or her children, we have been successful, but to impact so many Soldiers and Families is simply overwhelming and fills the heart with pride,” said Lt. Col. Steven Palmer, who hails from Las Vegas and serves as the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.
“This program has grown so large for us that nearly everyone feels the positive influence of this Family interaction. I cannot be more proud of our ministry team and the positive impact they have had on our daily mission,” he said.
The support for this program has been ‘Steadfast and Loyal’ throughout the battalion. A video of the deployed Soldier reading a book, and the book, are mailed to the child. The child’s reaction is mailed in return to the Soldier.
“It’s a wonderful blessing to be able read to my daughter on video, receive a video in return, and be able to watch her sit and follow along with the book,” said Staff Sgt. James Stanley, who hails from Troufdale, Ore., and serves as a personnel noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Bn., 4th Avn. Regt. “It helps with the separation, and I get to help teach her to read at the same time.”
United through Reading’s nationally acclaimed programs provide opportunities for powerful emotional bonding to deployed service members and their Families. The program attempts to relieve the stress of separation by coordinating a book reading session between adult and child.
Chaplain (Capt.) Mark Olson, from Dayton, Tenn., who has six children of his own, offers Soldiers this unique opportunity to communicate with their children not only by providing a reading room for Soldiers to record in, but by taking the program to the Soldiers working on the flight line.
“Many Soldiers do not have the time to come to our reading room so we take our video camera and books to them,” said Olson. “The main idea for this program is simply to keep Soldiers in touch with their Families. The greatest reward, however, is the knowledge that someone back home will cry, smile, or laugh as they see their loved one in living color live before them on TV.”
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Pfc. Shannon Willingham, who hails from Pendleton, S.C., shows off the books she has read to children back home while on Camp Taji Aug. 12. Willingham serves as a supply clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Avn. Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Kathryn Rains, 3rd Bn., 4th Avn. Regt., CAB, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
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