The Free Press, Mankato, MN - Military kids go to camp

Wed, Nov 25 2009

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Hallie Olson, daughter of a member of the National Guard, decorates a plaque with the Soldier’s Creed at Camp Patterson Saturday.
Matt Johnston / The Free Press

National Guard members Jayson Wagner (left) and Bryan Gerber (right) do an activity with children whose parents serve in the armed forces. The exercise uses a tarp that symbolizes a community. Each child is given a card with a civilian and military job. One by one the children are called to service, leaving the community. The remaining members must communicate in order to help the community continue.
Matt Johnston / The Free Press

Children with parents serving in the armed forces decorate the Soldier’s Creed, or Air Force Values, at Camp Patterson outside Madison Lake Saturday. Operation Military Kids works in a partnership with numerous organizations to run the Boots Off Camp.
Matt Johnston / The Free Press

Military kids go to camp

By Dan Linehan
The Free Press

The camp also includes traditional camp stuff like swimming, canoeing and games.

Woller said she also liked the presence of real soldiers who can talk about their life rather than describe it secondhand.

Julie Olson brought three of her daughters to the camp. Her husband, Troy, deployed to Iraq for 22 months and is currently training for two weeks in Camp Ripley.

“It does ’em good to get it out,” she said of the children. Meeting kids in similar situations teaches them “it’s alright to feel that way.”

On the Web: www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org

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