Singing, music program 'fosters connections' for military children

Fort Belvoir, Va. (Nov. 6, 2014) - Military children displayed their vocal talents during auditions for the Center for American Military Music Opportunities, Sunday at the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir.

CAMMO Kids features children ages 12 and younger who have at least one active-duty military parent. It was founded in 2009 by Cathy Lechareas, a Navy veteran and Victor Hurtado, Army veteran.

Tammy Callan, military spouse, brought her 4-year-old daughter, Zoe Callan, to participate in CAMMO Kids.

"She loves to sing and we haven't been able to find any activities (for her)," she said. "Usually we would go through our church's vocal choir but we go to the chapel on Fort Belvoir now and there isn't something for young children here. But we saw this through the USO newsletter and we decided to let her try it out."

Tammy Callan said the experience will give Zoe exposure to singing in front of an audience.

"She has done one Christmas pageant with our old church before we moved here but other than that she has not sang in front of other people," she said. "So it will be a brand new experience for her."

Master Sgt. Chrystal Rheams, vocal director for CAMMO Kids, said the goal was to get military children to represent all of the military services through music.

"CAMMO Kids are going to get a chance to learn about public performing, get some basic vocal technique work and some basic music skills, also camaraderie," Rheams said. "There is something about military kids that when they move around, making friends, they don't always get a Family environment that they can grow and learn in. This is kind of what that does. It fosters connections."

Brandy Albert, a military spouse in the American Military Spouses Choir, brought two of her three children to participate in CAMMO Kids. She said knowing the impact that Rheams and Lechareas are trying to make on the community influenced her decision.

"I loved that our children could be part of that," she said.

Although her children haven't sung in choirs before, she wants them to be more involved with other military children.

"I think it's good to incorporate them more in the military community," Albert said. "We don't live on post and I would love for them to be able to see how being affiliated with more military members works. It's a lot more Family-oriented and that's really important to us."

Albert has been singing since high school and said she enjoys watching people's reactions to songs.

"We don't know which song we're singing and how it's going to move that person but as long as it moves one person -- then what we're doing, it makes it all the better," she said.

CAMMO Kids will be performing in the local area at least once every three months. The program, according to CAMMO Kids, improves memory skills and confidence, fosters creativity and expression, as well as creates friendships.

For more information about the program, visit www.cammomusic.org.