Students clapped their hands and stomped their feet during a performance by the 101st Airborne Division Jazz Band April 6 at Barsanti Elementary School in celebration of Month of the Military Child.
April’s Month of the Military Child is an opportunity for Families and communities to acknowledge the important role military children play in the armed forces. This tradition was established by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger more than 30 years ago.
During April more than 1.9 million U.S. military children from infants to 18 years old, who have one or both parents serving in the armed forces are recognized, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The jazz concert began with a blast from a saxophone. As it drew to a close about an hour later, Sgt. Katherine Bolcar, jazz band lead singer, beckoned Paula Fellows, Barsanti music teacher, to join the band on stage.
Her students cheered with delight as she took the microphone from Bolcar and began singing Etta James’ “At Last” to the children.
“We only practiced together one time before the performance,” Fellows said. “They invited me to perform with them.”
With the jazz band backing her up, Fellows crooned into the microphone, hugging her students as she performed. Fellows said although the song choice may seem unusual to some, it makes sense to her. “I wanted to approach it more like the students are my world, because they are,” she said. “This is my happy place. Being here with all the kids, making music with them and hopefully brightening their day and giving them something they are going to take with them throughout the rest of their life.”
Fellows said being able to teach children about music is the best part of her day.
“Being able to give these kids the gift of music is the greatest gift that anyone can give,” she said. “Music is the one thing you can take with you and have your entire life. It really is what makes us human.”
After the concert, dozens of children stood up to hug her. Later as the students left school for the day, many stopped by her classroom to compliment her.
“I just feel so loved after that performance,” Fellows said, “The kids are great and so supportive.”
On Friday, Barsanti invited parents out to the school for a picnic lunch with their children and to watch the students march in a parade around the parking lot with handmade banners.
“We are calling it ‘Little Heroes for Little Heroes.’ It’s a play on words,” joked Hugh McKinnon, Barsanti principal. “After lunch the parents are invited to stay and watch our parade. The classes have made banners with slogans about appreciating military children.”
Sergeant Samantha Kanatzar, 5th Special Forces Group, happily sat beside her son, Jackson, in Barsanti’s cafeteria and opened her carton of chocolate milk. The kindergarten student and his friends toasted each other in celebration before chugging their milk.
Kanatzar said she was excited to be able to participate in the day’s activities because she enjoys spending time with her son as often as she can.
“There are a lot of times when I can’t be here for the normal everyday stuff, so when I can it’s important to make an effort to be there for him,” she said. “Even if it’s something as simple as having lunch.”
Jackson giggled as he and his mom ate while surrounded by his school friends.
“I just think that it is so awesome that the school is celebrating my child,” she said. “I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll say it again, [Jackson] has a harder job than I do. When I go away I can focus on the job and the mission. I don’t have to worry about home as much, because I’m right in the middle of things. The people who are left at home, especially the kids, are the ones who notice the change when we aren’t there.”
Staff Sgt. Cyrus Vaughn, 510th Military Working Dog Detachment, said although his children are always on his mind while he is in the field, he knows they struggle with the military lifestyle more than he does.
“Most people don’t understand the situation that military Families go through,” Vaughn said. “Our kids go through just as much as their Soldier does, if not more. It’s important to celebrate them to make sure they know they aren’t forgotten or left out.”
Vaughn’s son, Cason, third grade, said he liked all of the month of the military child activities, especially the concert.
“Being in the military is really hard,” he said. “We move sometimes and I have to make new friends. Sometimes my dad is deployed and I don’t really get to see him for a while. That’s really hard. I spend a lot of time with my mom then.”
His classmate, Khloe Crosswhite, third grade, said her dad has been deployed for at least four years, which is half of the 8-year-old girl’s life. Her father has been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Korea.
“I miss him a lot when he is gone,” she said. “It’s really hard to keep going sometimes.”
Despite the struggle, Khloe said she has made several new friends at Barsanti.
“I really liked listening to the jazz band with my friends,” she said. “I loved everything they did. They are really talented.”
Although the celebration is about the children, Month of the Military Child also reminds teachers why they do what they do, McKinnon said.
“Most importantly it helps give the kids some recognition for the sacrifices they make,” he said. “We want the kids to feel appreciated. Even though we are here to give them an education, we are also here to support them and their Families.”