FORT DRUM, N.Y. (March 31, 2016) -- When 8-year-old Sean Borayi, a patient at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, beat Spc. Dominick Hernandez, a military policeman with 563rd Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion, in a game called "Suck it Up," he could hardly contain his excitement as he jumped up and down yelling "I won! I won!"
Hernandez, who was a good sport, accepted his defeat and offered Sean a high-five. He went back to his seat with his head hanging down, but for a few hours March 23, that was the name of the game for a group of Soldiers from the 91st MP Battalion.
"This is pretty great (for him)," said Sean's mother, Theresa, who stays with her son during his treatments for a rare autoimmune disease. "It gives something for the children to do, and he absolutely loves the Soldiers."
The visit is a part of the 91st MP Battalion's outreach program to get out into their community and to "give back," according to Chaplain (Capt.) Jueun Kim, 91st MP Battalion chaplain, and for the children's hospital, it was their first visit from Soldiers from Fort Drum.
The MP battalion has already had a few community events around Fort Drum, but the visit to Syracuse is their first to a children's hospital, and it was something Kim wanted for the Soldiers. Kim said that due to word of mouth, the battalion's outreach program has gained a lot of traction and popularity throughout the last few months, and they have gotten to the point where every seat in their convoy has gotten filled.
"This is a very special place," he said. "I wanted to give the opportunity to our Soldiers because they work hard every day."
The Soldiers gathered in the performance center where Sue Karl, a child life specialist, conjured up several activities. Although children such as Sean were the first to go heads up with a Soldier, there were some who were happy just to watch.
"I think it was a great day for the kids, Soldiers and families," she said. "It was nice for the children who are shy and put Soldier against Soldier as they watched."
Although the children were happy to just hang out with Soldiers, the service members all said they had a great time.
"It's good to get out here and spend time with kids," said Capt. Courtney Franks, who works in the 91st MP Battalion Plans shop. "We want to support our communities because they really do support us, and we see it every day."
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