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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 9, 2008 - 1:04:07 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| While awaiting their respective turns to address the gathered spectators and news media at the YMCA in Noblesville, Ind., on Tuesday, 11 March, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, The Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, were kept entertained by Chloe (age 1) and Jaxon (age 3). They are the children of Capt. Maurice Curtis who is currently deployed to Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Colleen, the children's mother (holding Chloe) was on hand to give grateful testimony to the generosity of the YMCA's program of free membership to the families of deployed Soldiers. (Photo by Sgt. Michael Krieg, Indiana National Guard.) |
CAMP ATTERBURY, IN. - Indiana's Greater Indianapolis Young Men's Christian Association has a program, Operation Indiana Partners, which allows the families of deployed Indiana National Guardsmen to enjoy membership for free.
At a press conference, Tuesday, March 11, at the Fishers Branch YMCA, officials announced this program for those who will need it most - the families.
"We want to make sure their (Soldiers') families have lots of positive activities during these difficult times," said Eric Ellsworth, YMCA president and CEO of Greater Indianapolis.
"This is really a special day for us in the Indiana National Guard," said The Adjutant General of Indiana, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger.
"The YMCA has stepped up and offered free memberships to National Guard families," he added.
Special time is also reserved for the parents by the facilities offering free child care for up to 2 hours during the specified hours, time for mothers like Colleen Curtis to get away and do their own thing for at least a little while.
"I think mostly it helps with him." - referring to her son, Jaxon. "It gives me a break, to have 'me' time," she explained.
"I just want to say how awesome this is. The overwhelming support is amazing."
New YMCA members like Ashley Witt taking advantage of the program know that every little thing - like the program - can make a difference.
"As a military wife it's very hard with a loved one being gone, and this definitely helps," said Witt.
"It made my day," she said of being able to join the YMCA at no cost, "Things like this can really change your mood. It's the little things like this that can make the families happy."
"We hope all our families take the opportunity and take advantage of the YMCA's generosity," said Maj. Gen. Umbarger.
According to YMCA's Website, found at http://www.indymca.org, about 43 facilities throughout Indiana participate in this program.
Though the years, the YMCA has been there through some of our country's most turbulent times of war and poverty, tending to the needs of servicemembers, prisoners of war and civilians.
They established an Armed Services department in September, 1898, and in 1902 YMCA facilities were built on military bases; special training was made available for the Army and Navy in 1903. By 1914 there were 31 military YMCAs and 180 traveling libraries, allowing almost a quarter of a million men to stay in dormitories.
The YMCA gave aid to about 6 million prisoners of war from 36 different countries during World War II.
Still today the YMCA offers its hand, lending our brave servicemembers and families in need of support an opportunity to participate in structured and positive activities, ensuring emotional and financial preservation.
"This is just one way to help our brave men and women who serve in the National Guard," said Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| With her two children, Jaxon (3) and Chloe (1) looking on, Colleen Curtis, wife of deployed Indiana Army National Guardsman Capt. Maurice Curtis, spoke to the gracious generosity of the Greater Indianapolis YMCA organization for providing free memberships to the families of deployed Soldiers. During the news conference at the YMCA in Noblesville, Ind., on Tuesday, 11 March, Colleen was overheard to say that, "We enjoy the YMCA and the kids are particularly fond of the play structure located in the Family Prime Time Center". (Photo by Sgt. Michael Krieg, Indiana National Guard.) |
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| During a news conference held at the YMCA in Noblesville, Ind., on Tuesday, 11 March, Mr. Eric Ellsworth, President and CEO of the YMCA's of Greater Indianapolis, announced that the seven full-facility branches of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis are offering free Military Family Memberships to the spouses and children of military personnel who are deployed to active duty. Pictured from left to right are: Mrs. Colleen Curtis, Jaxon Curtis (age 3), Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, The Adjutant General of Indiana, Mrs. Ashley Witt, Indiana's Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, Chloe Curtis (age 1), and Mr. Eric Ellsworth, President and CEO of the YMCA's of Greater Indianapolis. (Photo by Sgt. Michael Krieg, Indiana National Guard.) |
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