SMA spouse visits Marne children

By Elvia Kelly Fort Stewart Public AffairsSeptember 1, 2011

FORT STEWART, GA. - As the Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III visited Dog Face Soldiers at the home of the Third Infantry Division, spouse Jeanne Chandler toured Fort Stewart's Child Development Center, building 475, and Kessler Elementary School, Aug. 25.

A mother of six and a grandmother of seven, Chandler is no stranger to early childhood development. She said that a child's environment shapes them through their growing process.

"The way children are brought up in whatever environment shapes them as adults, so it is crucial," Chandler said as she spoke with Dagmar Peguero-Olinger, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Child Youth & School Services coordinator.

Following the CDC visit, Chandler toured Kessler Elementary School. She visited a number of classrooms as well as briefly viewed the new play ground. She greeted children and commented on the activities they were working on.

Upon reaching the final classroom of the tour, the students welcomed Chandler with a chant, a rhythmic chant routinely sung by the students before story time.

In a classroom, sitting on a chair as the students sat on the rug preparing for story time, she asked, "Has anyone's mommy or daddy been gone for a long time?"

The children raised their hands. . . some responded that their father has been in the field, others stated that their parent has been to Iraq or Afghanistan, one said that both his mom and dad are Soldiers and another said that his father shoots a "sniper rifle."

Afterward, Chandler read Melinda Hardin's "Hero Dad," an illustrated children's book about fathers who are Soldiers in the U.S. military.

Before concluding the afternoon's tour, Chandler requested to hear the story time chant once more.

"The visit went really well," said Merilee Cox, Instructional Systems Specialist for DoDEA. "She noted that she hasn't been to our Department of Defense School before, so it was unique. She seemed very happy to be here."