CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The road to "Sesame Street" led straight through the front gates of Charleston AFB Sept 25.
More than 800 people came out to the Charleston AFB theater to see The Sesame Street Experience for Military Families event featuring a 25-minute performance by Elmo and some of his friends from Sesame Street.
Families came from as far north as Myrtle Beach, S.C., and as far south as Savannah, Ga.
Families who attended the event were not only treated to the "Sesame Street" performance but were also provided information from organizations such as the United Service Organizations, Military OneSource and the Sesame Workshop about preparing for deployments and some resources that can help families get through those difficult times.
"The Sesame Street Experience for Military Families brings the Talk, Listen, Connect DVD and materials to life, and it reaches out directly to the families who face challenges of military life each day," said Gary Knell, Sesame Street Workshop president and CEO. "Our partnership with the USO further extends this initiative. We're visiting installations across the nation to help these families bond through emotionally difficult times, by providing an educational and entertaining show and outreach activities they can share."
Charleston AFB is just one of many stops for this program.
"We are doing 42 shows in over 16 weeks," said Lynn Schwatsky, senior project director of Sesame Street's Talk, Listen, Connect Initiative.
One of the Team Charleston families to attend was Tech. Sgt. Adam Garrett, 437th Medical Group, who brought his two children out to see the show.
"This is a good thing," said Sergeant Garrett. "It gets the kids excited and they also provide you with some great information."
It would be great to have more opportunities like this one, said Staff Sgt. Edgar Ayala-Rodriguez, 437th Maintenance Squadron, who attended the event with his son.
"This is great," said Sergeant Ayala-Rodriguez. "It helps us bond and it also helps the kids socialize."
The Talk, Listen, Connect initiative was developed by the Sesame Workshop after research showed there was a need to provide military families with additional resources to assist them in surviving long and sometimes multiple deployments, said Ms. Schwatsky.
The kits distributed at the event are multimedia outreach kits that feature the "Muppets" from "Sesame Street" and consist of DVDs and print materials for children, parents and caregivers.
The Sesame Workshop has produced and distributed 500,000 of the kits at no cost, said Ms. Schwatsky.
"I want to thank the USO for bringing the Sesame Street Experience for Military Families to Charleston AFB," said Maj. John Silverman, 437th Force Support Squadron commander. "Our children experience frequent deployments of either one or both parents and it has an emotional impact on them. 'Sesame Street' has been a long educator of children, and this event provided the children and their families with additional resources needed to be successful in emotionally preparing for a deployment and the parent's return home."
For those who were unable to attend the event but would still like access to the kits, should visit the Talk, Listen, Learn Web site at www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc where the kits can be ordered or downloaded.