Ellsworth Celebrates Month of the Military Child

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Hada
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Airman and Family Services flight hosted a Month of the Military Child celebration event April 12 in the base Youth Center to honor the children of service members.

The event provided an opportunity for military children to have fun and interact with Airmen from different career fields while discovering the importance of what their parents do in the Air Force.

"It was a worthwhile experience," said Susan Ratkovsky, Ellsworth Child Development Center director. "We don't do enough for the children, so we wanted to be a part of this event to show them that we appreciate the sacrifices that they make as well."

Ratkovsky emphasized that recognizing the sacrifices military children make is significant.

"The sacrifices they make are huge, sometimes they only have one parent at home for six months at a time and they also have a tough time building relationships when they have friends moving away all of the time."

Members of the 28th Security Forces Squadron and the 28th Civil Engineering Squadron gave the children first-hand accounts of the processes they go through daily.

"Families are very important to the morale and well-being of our Airmen," said Senior Airman Jared Phillips, 28th SFS military working dog handler. "It's important to show our children what we do in the Air Force so they can understand why what their parents do is significant not only to the family but the whole nation."

Phillips said events like this are important because it helps military children understand that they are part of a community even though their parents may be deployed or busy with work.

"It's crucial for them to feel a part of everything and not feel forgotten while their parents are gone," said Phillips.

Military children were also treated to an array of events including bouncy castles, a musician, prizes, refreshments and games. Volunteers from units were present providing food, face-painting and ice cream.

The Airman and Family Services flight plans to hold more events similar to this one in the near future.

"By involving our children and showing them that they matter too, we are instilling that same pride in them that we received when our troops joined the military," Ratkovsky said. "Our Air Force family doesn't end with the military member; it also extends to the family."

In addition to celebrating military children at the event April 12 people from the base and surrounding communities wore purple April 17 in recognition of the month.

To help show support Sam Kooiker, Rapid City mayor, officially proclaimed April 7 as "Purple Up for Military Kids" Day showing appreciation to the hundreds of South Dakota military children for their commitment and sacrifices. When parents serve in the military, their children serve too.