Military children and their Families were honored for their sacrifices during the first ever Military Family Appreciation Month Celebration Nov. 13, at the USO Warrior and Family Center on Fort Belvoir.
More than 500 children and Family members with children attending local schools enjoyed a variety of activities and free food.
Children came from Fort Belvoir Elementary, Woodlawn Elementary, Walt Whitman Middle School and Mount Vernon High School.
The military Family members really appreciated the event, according to Wendy O'Sullivan, Child, Youth and School Services, School Liaison Officer.
"The Families are being acknowledged for their service, because the Families serve," she said. "It is not just to the Soldiers, it is the whole Family."
Children participated in a bean bag toss, musical chairs, and a dancing activity. The event also featured face painting and arts and craft stations. Students attending Walt Whitman Middle School helped to run all of those activities. Volunteers served hot dogs, snow cones, popcorn, juice and water.
Mount Vernon High School's Marine Corps Junior ROTC and Student2Student program members also volunteered to help out with the event. Student2Student is an organization that helps new students integrate into the high school. The Mount Vernon Madrigals choir also performed during the event.
The event was sponsored by many organizations including Belvoir Federal Credit Union, CYSS, the Fort Belvoir Fire Department, Blue Star Families and the Armed Forces Foundation.
Megan O'Day, CYSS School Liaison Officer, said the older children were excited to help out with the event.
"They helped to develop what kind of themed activities we were going to have," O'Day said. "They developed a menu and they are leading the activities."
Tyler Bardo, 17, Mount Vernon High School student and member of Student2Student, volunteered to help serve popcorn during the event.
"It is fun," he said. "It is nice to see everyone come by. It is really nice to help people out."
Tyler lives on post and has been to four high schools. He said that Mount Vernon's Student2Student group is the most active school integration organization for newcomers he has ever seen.
Bredonna Rhodes, a military spouse, came to the event with her son, Oshea, 8, and her daughters, Saniya, 4, and Aneysia, 10. All of her children participated in the arts and craft stations. She appreciated the efforts of those who sponsored the event.
"I think it is great because it helps build our morale," Rhodes said.
Fort Belvoir feeder-school personnel have done a great job of helping out military Families, according to Kim Brown, a military spouse, who lives on post. She came to the event with her sons, James, 9, and Joshua, 5; and daughter, Kaylin, 11.
Brown brought her children to the event because she wants them to see that military Families are appreciated.
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