FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - (November 2, 2012) "We are having a very exciting event," said Joy Wohlman Boyce, library technician, about the Veterans Day story hour, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. at the Last Frontier Community Activity Center.
Sponsored by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and coordinated by the library staff, the story hour will feature the book "H is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet" written by Devin Scillian, the son of a career military officer and author of more than a dozen children's books.
"This event is to celebrate and appreciate our veterans," she said. "We want to teach children that with or without uniform, we are all part of a family, part of the military family. To teach the appreciation, to reach beyond just this specific moment…"
In the book Scillian credits all branches of military service and cites the courage, character and commitment of our Soldiers in "H is for Honor," she said. "He acknowledges the world's very best-- our Special Forces, our families and our history with poetry and a sidebar of text to explain each entry."
As an "Army brat," Scillian understands and explains the meaning of "Honor." Essentially, our men and women in uniform epitomize the word. This event celebrates that honor and brings it home for Veterans Day."
The book's illustrator, Victor Juhasz, cleverly depicts military life with colorful and appropriate illustrations. However, according to Wohlman Boyce, the library is going to present the story "Fort Wainwright style." When asked exactly what that meant, the response was, "You'll have to see what it means."
While there are story hours each Friday at the post library, there are only two each year of this magnitude (which Julia Allen, the Fort Wainwright librarian jokingly refers to as "story hour on steroids.") The first one this year was in March during Read across America, when the command staff read "The Lorax" and this one at which upwards of 200 people are expected to attend.
Allen said it will feature a "Moment of Honor, " the National Anthem sung by an opera singer, accompanied by a sign language interpreter, and different readers from all walks of life including some "celebrity readers." The 9th Army Band will play at different times during the afternoon. There will be a group craft activity with the 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and refreshments afterwards.
Registration is requested and books will be given to the first 50 families that register and attend. To register call 353-4137 or visit http://www.doodle.com/fkif92tn8rwc72wf#table
Wohlman Boyce promised the event would be meaningful, fun and remind all in attendance what it means to be part of the Army Alaska Family.
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