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WASHINGTON D.C. (April 8, 2008) - Military children and their
sacrifices took center stage here last night during a reception
attended by Defense Department dignitaries.
"Our Military Kids," a nonprofit organization that provides
grants that keep children of deployed National Guardsmen and
reservists engaged in extracurricular activities, honored these
special members of the military community.
"Our servicemen and women may be called to pay the highest
price," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said. "Their families --
and children in particular -- make a significant sacrifice, as
well.
"Organizations like this one help our military kids feel special
and loved," he continued. "They make a tremendous difference in the
lives of America's youngest heroes."
Several of these young heroes attended the event, but two
brothers, Will and Jake Bacon, got a little special attention.
With their father, Missouri Army National Guard Maj. Matt Bacon,
deployed to Iraq, the boys qualified for, applied for, and received
a pair of $167 grants to play baseball from Our Military Kids.
The grants were special to the boys because they meant being
able to continue an activity they love, but they were special for
Our Military Kids, as well. The pair of grants pushed the
organization over the $1 million mark in awards.
"At first, they thought they won a million dollars," said
Christine Bacon, the boys' mother. "Once I explained it, 'No, your
grant put them over the million-dollar (mark),' they thought it was
pretty cool."
And it turned out to be even cooler; it earned them a trip to
the nation's capital for the event. With that trip came a visit to
the International Spy Museum, some sightseeing and a visit with
"Grammy and Grandpa" Bacon. All this was exciting, but each brother
had his own opinion on what his favorite part of the trip had
been.
"My favorite thing was riding around on the bikes," Jake said of
the sightseeing tour the family took. Will disagreed, preferring
the National Hockey League to the national monuments. "We got to go
to a Capitals game," he said.
The one thing the brothers can agree on is that they miss their
dad, who has been deployed since June 10. Though they get to talk
to him every Saturday and Sunday and get daily e-mails, it's just
not the same as having him home coaching.
"He tells me to scoot back or to go forward when I'm catcher,"
said Will, who's looking forward to playing first base this year.
"It's a bit easier because it's more accurate, and (the ball isn't)
going that fast." Bacon is expected home around the first of
June.
Gates said the Bacon family exemplifies the patriotism and
dedication of the country's reserve force. Bacon's father is a
retired Army Reserve chaplain, and his mother is an Army Reserve
judge advocate general officer. All three -- mother, father and son
-- were deployed to Iraq in 2003.
Will and Jake are just two of the nearly 3,000 children of
deployed Guardsmen and reservists who have benefitted from Our
Military Kids' $1 million in grants in the three short years since
the group began.
"This event provides Our Military Kids an opportunity to
publically recognize the military children that are asked to be
supportive of their parents who serve our country," said Linda
Davidson, Our Military Kids co-founder. "We applaud these families
for the daily sacrifices they make and the many challenges they
overcome during lengthy deployments and separations."
Gail Kruzel, the organization's other co-founder, said Our
Military Kids will continue to applaud these families and will
strive for even bigger goals in the future.
"Tonight we're celebrating the fact that we have given out a
million dollars in grants," she said. "But this year, we plan to
give out a million dollars in 2008."
Our Military Kids is a supporter of America Supports You, a
Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with
servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Editor's Note: Military families can also avail
themselves of the Defense Department's America Supports You
program, which highlights home-front groups across the nation that
are providing a variety of services and support to troops and their
families. A listing of these groups and information about their
efforts is available at www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
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