© 2009 universal press syndicate betty debnam ounding...

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Do you go to school near a militarybase? If you do, you probably know somekids whose parents serve in the military.

With more than 1.5 million membersof our military actively serving ourcountry,there aremanythousandsof kids intheUnitedStatesand around the world who know justwhat it’s like to be a military kid.

As we prepare to celebrate MemorialDay, The Mini Page found out about howkids and their families manage withmoving often and having parents sentaway for long periods of time.Families coming along

A mom or dad may be stationed, orsent, to another city or country for trainingor education in his or her military job. Inthis case, the family might choose tocome along, especially if the soldier willbe away for a long time.

However, the parent at home may havea good job and not want to quit. Butmany military spouses have jobs that letthem work from home, no matter wherehome is.

Schools helpSchools near military bases are used to

having students who move a lot. Theyusually have good programs to help kidsadjust to their new surroundings.

Teachers are great at helping out newkids or students who have a parentserving away from home. They can workwith kids on special projects to show to areturning parent or to send to a parent.

Kids who havegone to severaldifferent schools maylearn to be moreoutgoing and makefriends easily. Still, itmay be difficult for them to become reallyclose to their friends, knowing that theymight have to leave soon.

Support from family and friendsMilitary parents and kids depend on

their extended families, such as auntsand uncles or grandparents, for helpwhen one parent is called to duty.

If both parents are in the military andare deployed at the same time, grandparentsor other family members may take careof children while the parents are gone.

Military unitIn the military, a unit is a group of

servicepeople who train and worktogether. For spouses and children ofsoldiers, the unit becomes like a family.Moms or dads who are still at homedepend on each other for help in takingcare of the house and kids.

Catching Up With …

Military Kids

Kids who move with their military families getto see new parts of the United States, or evenother countries. They may learn one or moreother languages while living away.

The Mini Page thanks Christine Bornemann withOperation Proud Hearts for help with this story.

photo courtesy Operation Proud Hearts

Sites to see: www.deploymentkids.comwww.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=childrens_resources

U.S. Navy sailors hurry to meet their familymembers after returning from a seven-monthdeployment.

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Note: Throughout this issue, for simplicity, The Mini Page refersto members of the military as “soldiers.” Members of the U.S.Marine Corps are generally known as Marines, Air Forcemembers are called “airmen,” and Navy members are called“sailors.” National Guard members are generally called “guardsmen.”

BETTY DEBNAM — Founding Editor and Editor at LargeHOUSTON CHRONICLE Saturday, May 23, 2009

Mini Spy ...from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Mini Spy and her friends are placing flags on the graves at ArlingtonNational Cemetery. See if you can find: • man in the moon • sheep

• heart• sailboat• teapot• elephant head• bird head• cat• umbrella• bell• number 2• word MINI• letter L• bird • frog• strawberry• doughnut


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Off to serveWhen a parent has to go away, the

whole family feels stress.• The soldier has to prepare gear and

uniforms. He or she has to finish up anyprojects at home.

• The husband or wife may worryabout the soldier’s safety. The spousealso may have to take on moreresponsibilities whilethe soldier is gone.

• Older kids mighthave to help out withextra chores or takingcare of younger siblings.

• Younger kids may struggle tounderstand where Mom or Dad is goingand why. Their behavior might changebecause of the stress.Deployment stages

Experts divide deployment into threedifferent phases, or stages:

• Predeployment, before the soldierleaves.

• Deployment, or the time that thesoldier is gone.

• Reunion, or the time after thesoldier returns home.

DeploymentFor military members going to

Afghanistan or Iraq, deploymentsusually last about six months. E-mail,Web cameras and cell phones havemade it easier for soldiers to keep intouch with families at home. But kidsand parents can do other things, too.

Some families getcreative with waysto “count the days”until Mom or Dadcomes home. Theymight make a paper chain and removea link each day. Or kids can get a pieceof candy, symbolizing a “kiss,” for eachday the parent is gone.Reunion

This happytime can alsobe stressful.Everyone willhave to adjustto Dad orMom beingback home again. Kids should makesure to include their returning parent inschool and play activities.

When a Parent Goes Away

PredeploymentThis stage may last several weeks or

just a few hours.Parents of small kids can record

themselves reading bedtime stories orsinging songs. Older kids might want to

give theirmom or dadsomethingspecial totake along.These

treasured items are important tosoldiers when they’re far away.

Parents and children might want toplan a special activity for when thesoldier returns.

Words that remind us of military kids and Memorial Day are hidden in the blockbelow. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters areused twice. See if you can find: MILITARY, FAMILY, SERVE, MOVE, UNIT,FRIEND, DEPLOYMENT, CHORES, REUNION, MEMORIAL, HOLIDAY, CIVIL,WAR, PARADE, DECORATION, SOLDIER, FLAGS, ARLINGTON, LEE, CEMETERY.

Military Kids TRY ’NFIND

REMEMBER OURBRAVE SOLDIERS!

M Y K B Q N O I T A R O C E D

I A C H O R E S E E J U H S VL D I E D L X W V D N C O E KI I V B M E M O R I A L Z R FT L I H S E M J T H D R G V RA O L G N O T G N I L R A E IR H A B Z W L E E Y W B M P EY L I M A F Q R R E U N I O NF J K R G T N E M Y O L P E D


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Predeployment can be a busy time for parents,but experts say they should use some of thetime to make memories with their kids.

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeCorny Vegetable Salad



Meet Chelsea StaubChelsea Staub stars as Stella in the

Disney Channel series “Jonas.”Chelsea, 20, was born in Phoenix, Ariz.

She got her first acting job when she was 9years old, in the Broadway tour of themusical “Showboat.”

She has acted in several other plays,including “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan” and “TheSecret Garden.”

She has acted in several TV shows, including “Wizards ofWaverly Place” and “Summerland.” She has also acted inmovies, including “Arizona Summer,” “Bratz” and the TV movie“Minutemen.”

Chelsea enjoys painting, photography, going to the beach withfriends and going to concerts. She now lives in Los Angeles.

You’ll need:• 1 (15.25-ounce) can whole corn, drained• 1/2 cup red or green bell pepper, diced• 1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped• 2/3 cup cucumber, chopped• 1/3 cup light Italian salad dressingWhat to do:1. Combine drained corn and vegetables in a medium-size

bowl.2. Pour Italian dressing over top and stir to combine.3. Chill for several hours to blend flavors. Serves 4.You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.



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All the following jokes have something in common.Can you guess the common theme or category?

Danny: What do you get when you cross a cockerspaniel, a poodle and a rooster?

Dennis: A cockerpoodledoo!

Dominic: What happened when thedachshund swallowed a clock?

Debbie: It got tics!

Dora: What kind of dog did the rich scientisthave?

Dinah: A golden Lab!

Standards Spotlight:Military Kids

Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each weekwe identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer activities that willhelp your students reach them.This week’s standards:• Students understand people and events honored in commemorative holidays. (History)• Students demonstrate respectful and caring relationships in the family, workplace and community.

(Family and Consumer Science: Interpersonal Relationships)Activities:1. Draw a picture of your family doing something fun together. Now cut out newspaper words that

describe your family. Make a frame of your picture with the words by pasting them along theedges of your picture.

2. With a friend, go through the newspaper and circle any words or pictures that show or describethe military. Who found the most items?

3. Look at newspaper ads and pictures for items you could use to stay in touch with a family memberwho was far away. Paste the items on a piece of paper. Next to each one, write a sentenceexplaining how that item would help you communicate.

4. Find local news stories and community events that describe special events to celebrate MemorialDay in your community. Write down three events you would like to attend. Explain your choices.

5. Prepare a Memorial Day celebration for your community. Find information in your newspaper tohelp plan your event: Where would you hold the event? Who would you ask to give a talk aboutMemorial Day? What musicians would you ask to provide entertainment? What food would youserve? Now write a newspaper story about your event.

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

®from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate


This year, as we celebrate MemorialDay, many members of our military arefighting in two wars, in Iraq andAfghanistan. Almost 5,000 Americanshave died in those wars.A special holiday

Memorial Day is observed on the lastMonday in May. On that day, we honorthe memories of men and women whohave died while serving our country.Early beginning

Memorial Day began after the CivilWar. Veterans of the war called it“Decoration Day.” They wantedAmericans to remember fallen soldiersby decorating their graves with flowers,flags and wreaths.

After World War I, the holiday cameto honor soldiers who lost their lives inall of America’s wars.

In many cities and towns, veteransand active service members march inparades or attend special events forMemorial Day.

A symbol for all soldiersThe Tomb of the Unknowns

monumentatArlingtonNationalCemeterycontainstheremains ofa soldier from World War I. Close by,unknown soldiers from World War IIand the Korean War are laid to rest.

These solemn gravesites are symbolsof all the soldiers who were lost inthese wars.Flags-in

Each year just before Memorial Day,soldiers of the 3rd U.S. InfantryRegiment, “The Old Guard,” place a flagin front of each grave marker at

ArlingtonNationalCemetery.The traditionis known as“flags-in.”

Robert E. Lee’s homeArlington

NationalCemeterysurroundsArlingtonHouse, whichis today theRobert E. LeeMemorial.

The housewas built byMarthaWashington’s grandson, GeorgeWashington Parke Custis. His daughterMary Anna married Robert E. Lee, whobecame the leader of the Confederate(southern) Armies.

Lee left Arlington House in April1861 and never returned. It became anarmed camp and headquarters forUnion (northern) forces during the CivilWar. Part of the property was taken fora cemetery for Union soldiers.

The Lee family lost claim to themansion in 1864 for nonpayment oftaxes. The U.S. government bought the1,100-acre property for $150,000. Itbecame a settlement for freed slaves,and later a farm.

The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

On Memorial Day, the president of theUnited States usually attends a ceremony atArlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.President George W. Bush places a wreathat the Tomb of the Unknowns in 2008.

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Members of the 90th Security Forces Groupof the Air Force march in a Memorial Dayparade in Cheyenne, Wyo.

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Robert E. Lee

Today, Robert E. Lee’s former property isArlington National Cemetery. The house isthe Robert E. Lee Memorial.

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Next week, The Mini Page is all about rats.Defense Department photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti Jr.

IRAQ

AFGHANISTAN

Persian Gulf

MiddleEast

Asia Memorial Day

© 2009 universal press syndicate betty debnam ounding...

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