News Search

Helping children cope: The USO Sesame Street Experience

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Elmo and his friends from the television show Sesame Street, paid a visit here to perform for the youngest members of Team Shaw and their families Nov. 1 and 2, at the base theater.

The shows focused on how the lifestyle of serving one's country can be both rewarding and selfless, but how it also comes with some unique challenges for military families - particularly for young children.

One of the hardest parts about being a young military child is learning how to cope with relocating from base to base every few years. Recognizing the need to help youngsters understand this hardship, the USO created a Sesame Street experience that reaches out to children and parents and initiates an important dialogue about moving and making new friends, while maintaining old friendships.

"The first lady and Dr. Biden came out last year to open the tour when they started the 'Joining Forces' campaign which brings awareness to military families," said Tom Zaizar, Vee Corporation company manager. "The show is written specifically for military families and is tailored to their needs. A new character, Katie, was created to help military kids identify with someone going through the same issues."

The 30-minute performance teaches military children they are not alone by featuring a Muppet named Katie, a military child who is about to relocate to a new base after her parent's recent deployment. Katie opens up to her Sesame Street pals about her fears and excitement over her upcoming move.

Through the use of song and dance, Elmo and his friends reassure Katie that she will make new friends while still remaining close with old ones.

Families who attended the show received a free special toy and outreach material emphasizing the importance of adjusting to change.

"If we can do something to help our kids cope with all of those things, then that's a good thing," said Jack Lonergan, 20th Force Support Squadron community activity center director.

The show so far has been to 63 bases, with two weeks left on this year's tour, and has reached out to thousands of military families worldwide.

"Shows like this are important, not only to educate but to also make people feel that they are not alone and that there are people out there that care about them," Zaizar said. "That is why we do this show, to let military members know that we appreciate the sacrifices that they've made not only for our country, but for their own families."

"This show is normally a free every-other-year program for Shaw," Lonergan added. "We always welcome them back, and we will never say no to it, but we need people to keep participating."

For more information about future tours, visit the USO website at http://www.uso.org/sesame.