Maj. Gen. John W. Morgan III (standing, center), 2nd Infantry Division commander, reads a story and points to pictures illustrating the story to children and parents during a summer reading program in the USASG-Red Cloud Library clelbrating the Month...

RED CLOUD GARRISON South Korea - The summer reading program kicked off on USAG-Red Cloud with the 'Tell Me a Story' program organized by the Military Child Education Coalition and implemented in Area I by 2nd Infantry Division leadership and Area I garrison command. The event was lead by Maj. Gen. John W. Morgan III, 2ID commander, Debbie Morgan, and Joanne Sharp, wife of Gen. Walter (Skip) Sharp, 8th U.S. Army, United States Forces Korea, and United Nations Command commander.

The event featured a reading of While You Are Away, written by Eileen Spinelli, featuring Maj. Gen. Morgan and Joanne Sharp as guest readers.

The program uses literature such as While You Are Away and stories of the children themselves. Parents and children sit together to hear the story, and then break into small groups for a discussion with a trained facilitator. Every Family receives a copy of the featured book. The Tell Me a Story event is free to Families.

Morgan explained he and his wife utilize the programs instituted by the Military Child Education Coalition at home with their children and it is a good thing for all military families to use at home with their children.

Reasons the programs are essential are military children move from six to nine times during their elementary to high school years. Some make multiple moves during a single year. Academic standards, courses, access to programs, promotion and graduation requirements, and programs for children with special needs, and transfer and acceptance of records vary greatly from state to state and even from school to school. These frustrations, in addition to giving up friends and associates with whom a rapport has been established, cause further anxiety. All this together with separation from deployed parents or both parents adds additional issues. The role of MCEC is to help Families, schools, and communities prepare to support children during these frequent moves and difficult times in the military Family experience, Morgan explained.

The MCEC is a 501©(3) nonprofit, worldwide organization that identifies the challenges facing the highly mobile military child, increases awareness of these challenges in military and educational communities, and initiates and implements programs to meet the challenges.

The MCEC's goal is to level the educational playing field for military children wherever they are located around the world, and to serve as a model for all highly mobile children.

To learn more about MCEC, log on to www.militarychild.org.