FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (Nov. 1, 2012) -- Debbie Fink and her daughter, Jennifer, authors of a new children's book about military children, spoke at Manor View Elementary School on Friday.
Their visit was part of a national book promotion tour sponsored by the USO.
The book, entitled "The Little Champs: Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel," follows the children of five service members from each branch of the military coping with deployments; saying goodbye; and dealing with a wounded parent.
The book also includes lyrics from the song, "The Little Champ," co-written by Jennifer Fink.
"The USO recognizes our nation's little heroes are often those who need us the most," said Susan Thomas, vice president of USO Warrior and Family Care. "With the release of 'The Little Champs,' we hope to grant wishes for these future leaders by acknowledging their sacrifice and raising awareness for the challenges they face."
The USO is supporting the release of "The Little Champs" as part of the Grant a Wish for Our Heroes campaign to honor those who have exemplified service, sacrifice and strength for the nation. The organization will provide 6,000 copies of the book for USO centers around the world.
Debbie Fink, an educator and performer who has written other books, will visit USO centers and military schools to read the book, teach the song and discuss what makes military children "champs."
Earlier in the week, all Manor View students were given a copy of the book, which they read with their teachers in the classroom.
At the assembly, students were greeted by Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein.
"I read this book from cover to cover," he said. "Aren't the pictures pretty cool?"
Rothstein said what is important about the book are the stories it tells about military children.
"You are all the heroes," he said.
During the assembly, the Finks presented a brief video featuring photographs of military children with their families. The authors then discussed the book's characters and their different talents and hobbies.
The Finks then led the children in singing "The Little Champ" song and "The Star-Spangled Banner" as Debbie Fink played the violin.
Donna O'Shea, principal of Manor View, later presented each of the authors with a Commander's Coin of Excellence on behalf of Rothstein.
At the assembly's conclusion, the children were treated to ice cream provided by the USO.
In an interview after the assembly, Jennifer Fink, who is studying Public Health & Military Studies at the University of Maryland, said she asked her mother to work with her on the book project after she met a young girl last summer whose father was a Marine and triple amputee.
The girl said her father was lucky because he had one arm.
"That was her perspective. It is her new normal," said Jennifer Fink, a volunteer for Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial aid and other assistance to military families and wounded warriors.
She explained that the girl reminded her of the sacrifices of military children and the coping mechanisms they develop to deal with the challenges in their lives.
The Finks, who reside in Bethesda, decided to write the book as part of a public health initiative to provide children with the tools to deal with military life and to help civilian children understand their military-connected peers.
Debbie Fink said she hopes the military children who read the book recognize how much they are appreciated.
Grace Liston, a fourth-grader at Manor View, said she liked the book and understood how characters in the book felt when their parents were deployed.
"My dad's in Arizona taking classes," the 9-year-old said. "I miss him, but we call him sometimes."
Fourth-grader Jaylen Dillard said the book was great and like a character in the book, he had to say goodbye to his friends on his school football team when his father, a Soldier, was reassigned.
"I think it's cool to have a book about us kids," the 10-year-old said.
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