Fort Belvoir, Va. (April 24, 2014) - Child, Youth and School Services continued their Month of the Military Child celebration during the annual Kid Fest event at Markham School Age Center, Saturday.

Residents of Fort Belvoir and local military Families decorated sun visors, bandanas, painted their faces and ate hot dogs as part of the celebration.

The carnival style event, part of CYSS's Month of the Military Child celebration, gives Families a safe, friendly environment to spend time with their children.

"The event is about getting Families together and providing an opportunity for them to play and have fun with their children," said Sherry Bryant, CYSS Outreach Administrator.

The Fort Belvoir Credit Union, Geico, USA Discounters, Alexandria Children's Dental and Allied American University sponsored the event. Activities like leap frog, duck pond, ring toss and a rock mountain were some of the games provided for the children.

Families from out of the area, like Navy Lt. Cmdr. J.R. Ewing, enjoyed the festivities. Ewing is in town to visit a Family friend who suggested he bring his Family to the event.

"(CYSS) has done an excellent job," said Ewing. "There are a lot of activities for children of all ages here. My children have had a good time."

Ewing likes that the event is affordable for him and his Family, too.

"The fact that it's free is definitely nice," said Ewing.

Other Families made return trips Saturday, like Sherry Savage, Mount Vernon resident. Savage and her two children, Chance and Kate, made their fifth consecutive appearance at Kid Fest.

"I knew they had all these kid-appropriate activities and they have a great time every year," said Savage. "They like getting to make their own candy, the carnival games, the face painting. They pretty much liked everything."

The memories Kid Fest provides for Savage and her Family is why they come each year, she said. Her children were born at Dewitt Army Medical Center (which was replaced by Fort Belvoir Community Hospital), and have gone to the Child Development Center for after-school care.

The fact that the CDC employees' work the event is another reason Savage's children want to come every year, according to Savage.

"The kids get to see them in a different capacity," said Savage. "Plus, it's a safe, comfortable environment for them to play in."

Making sure military children know their sacrifices are noticed and appreciated is important, according to Savage, since the stress of the parent being away is hard on the Families.

"Their dad is away a lot, so they don't get to spend as much time with him as they would like," said Savage. "If kids are miserable and never get any attention, it would make it harder for the servicemember to stay in because they would have an unhappy Family."

Bryant feels events like Kid Fest are important, also, because they provide Families with a deployed parent a chance to relax and get away from the stress of their Family member's absence.

"You lose the Family structure during a deployment, and the other parent is overwhelmed and over-burdened at times," said Bryant. "The children can sense the stress level, so it's important to create connections with the community so they can support the children of the deployed servicemember."