Page 6 - mch0618_Magazine

TOP PRIORITY

Bases Worldwide Celebrate Month
Of the Military Child with Games,
Music, Bounce Houses, Fire Engines

orale, Welfare and Recreation departments at military
Mbases all over the world gear up in the month of April
every year to hold special events celebrating children.
Military communities have recognized April as the
Month of the Military Child for 32 years. Established
in 1986 by then-Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger,
Lorenzo Westbrook (second the observance is an opportunity for the Department of
from right), shows off the Defense to show its appreciation for the sacrifices mili-
White Plume Award with (from tary children make as part of the force behind the force.
left) Keith Gogas; USAG Fort According to a recent DoD report, there are nearly 2
he and Westbrook have been team- Hood Commander Col. Hank million “total-force dependent children” — about 900,000
mates since 2001. Perry; and Command Sgt. Maj. Army, 400,000 Air Force, 300,000 Navy and 118,000
Antonio Leija Jr.
“I was being deployed to Opera- Marine Corps.
tion Enduring Freedom, and I did not Accounts this year from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hick-
have a deputy at the time,” he recalled. “I asked him to step up and am in Hawaii, Chièvres Air Base in Belgium, and Fort
be the acting director while I was deployed.” Campbell in Kentucky and Tennessee all reveal children
Johnsen noted that Westbrook’s influence has been pervasive. learning, playing and enjoying activities indoors and out
“He has been involved in so many of our efforts: welcome home at special events and celebrations.
celebrations, Freedom Fest, Oktoberfest, Child and Youth Services April 21 was a special day for children in the USAG
(CYS) events, and sporting events. Each had his touch and guidance.” Benelux community at Chièvres AB — it was Kids’ Day
After the award presentation, Westbrook spoke to those in at- at Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Com-
tendance about the importance of taking on challenging assign- munity Activity Center. Children of all ages jumped in
ments and always striving to be better. the bouncy castle, built structures with Legos, watched
“I believe that I have made it to where I am today because of puppet shows and enjoyed many other attractions and
taking on developmental assignments, details and temporary pro- fun-filled activities.
motions,” he said. “While they may be short-term opportunities, Kids’ Day was also an occasion for them to meet
the knowledge and experience you gain can result in a lifetime of
rewards. This is one piece of advice that I tell all new employees
during the onboarding process: seize the opportunity and work
hard at whatever job you have and focus on making all your ex- CHIEVRES
periences positive ones.”
Developments Westbrook is credited with that have made an
impact on the Fort Hood military community include making Club
Hood a profitable enterprise as a catering and conference center;
creating and implementing an innovative managerial workshop
educational program; and implementing an improvement process
for CYS that earned the installation a 97.1 percent pass rate during
the latest inspection by higher headquarters.
The White Plume award was established in 1982 by the Adjutant
General of the Army to recognize outstanding service and contri-
bution to Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs.
It is the Army’s second-highest medal for achievement in support Julian Wal-
of Army Family and MWR programs. ford’s daugh-
ters enjoyed
Report and photos by Dave Larsen, command information officer, Fort Hood, Texas. CYS’s 100-
fo ot-l ong
inflatable ob-
stacle course.

A little girl plays with Legos during Kids’ Day
April 21, 2018, at the Community Activity
Center on Chièvres AB, Belgium. (U.S. Army
photos by Christophe Morel)

6 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | JUNE 2018