FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Families are an important part of military life, especially the children who endure frequent separation from their mom or dad due to deployments. Thanks to a program called Little Heroes, 25 Fort Bragg children received awards and prizes for submitting essays describing who their heroes are Feb. 15, at the Baez Youth Center.
Frank Hanan, Fort Bragg Public Affairs community relations chief, developed the program with one thought in mind -- to make military children feel cherished, important and to make an effort to ease some of the separation anxiety while bringing a little joy to the lives of these children.
"It's important for our children to have role models and people they can look up to. Often they have one or two parents deployed and this can be disruptive to a child who needs stability and a sense of security in order to thrive. Hopefully this contest will get them thinking about the qualities that make people who are in the business of serving others," said Hanan.
The Little Heroes essay contest was organized by the Child Youth and School Age Services, and was opened to students in kindergarten to twelfth grades and to participants in youth sports.
"It was a privilege to have been a part of this opportunity for our military Families and personally rewarding to be able to notify winners and hear their excitement," said Pattie Turner, chief of Child Youth and School Age Services.
"We had a great turnout for the awards ceremony and the smile on the children's faces and pride I saw in their parents reaffirmed, for me, the mission the Child Youth and School Age Services has in supporting our Families and contributing to their quality of life."
Each winner won overnight lodging at the Great Wolf Lodge for six, indoor water park tickets for a day, and breakfast, lunch and dinner for four at the resort.
"The parents wanted to win the getaway as it represented reconnecting with deployed spouses," said Turner.
The ceremony ended with bright smiles on young faces. It's possible that the Little Heroes contest provided more than prizes, it might have given these children a chance to reconnect.
"The Little Heroes program is one that is geared to make our children feel cherished and important. They have to know how important they are in the military life equation.
It is our responsibility to help them understand that they matter, we care, and we will be there for them," said Hanan. "You know, it's hard to explain to a child why mom or dad, in some cases both, has to go away for so long, or why mom or dad isn't there for birthdays, holidays and sporting events.
The Little Heroes program is an effort to ease some of the separation angst and bring a little joy to the lives of these children."
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