Photo By Dustin Senger | Pamela Russell, from Ontario, Ore., stands next to a shelf of children's books and...... read more read more
By Dustin Senger
ASG-QA public affairs
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – "This book always makes my daughter smile when I read it," said U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Henderson, from Memphis, Tenn., holding a children's book in a United Service Organization lounge at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Oct. 13, 2008. The Soldier is enjoying a four-day break from the daily grind of military duties in Iraq, by participating in the U.S. Central Command rest and recuperation pass program in the Gulf state of Qatar. The father hopes to return home by Christmas.
Henderson has served in Southwest Asia for over a year. To help stay connected with his young daughter, he took advantage of the new reading program at the USO in Qatar. First, service members choose a donated book from a hefty selection. Then a video camera is switched on to record them reading it out loud; simultaneously saving the session to DVD. Family members are left alone to read and talk aloud to their loved ones – everything is kept private. Afterward, the USO team packages the video and mails it to a provided address. The entire program is offered at no cost.
"I think this is a great benefit for us," said Henderson about the USO support of the United Through Reading military program for troops overseas. "My daughter can hear my voice while watching me read to her." United Through Reading is a non-profit organization intended to help children feel the security of caring family relationships and develop a love for reading.
"A picture or phone call is nice, but something living an interactive really helps family members connect," said Pamela Russell, from Ontario, Ore., about the recorded reading sessions. Russell is the USO Qatar duty manager and an active advocate of the United Through Reading military program. "Disney recently donated almost 300 movies for the troops in Qatar. During this holiday season, each participant is able to choose a Disney DVD to send home, with the book they just read."
"We get a lot of feedback from families back home," said Russell. "Many are playing the DVDs every day to reinforce relationships. We encourage them to take photos of children enjoying the videos, to create a full circle of connections. We want service members to see the impact a video has on a child." Russell understands family separation issues first-hand. "All three of my children are in the Army. My son is scheduled to return to Iraq this fall and my son-in-law leaves early next year."
"Some parents record a book for each one of their children, others return multiple times for just one," said Russell. "We also have chapter books for older children." There is no restriction set on how many times servicemembrs can use the free program. However, everyone is limited to 30-minute recordings, but family members can complete large books over several sessions – routinely sending home chapters until the book is complete.
On Oct. 31, 2008, USO Qatar will begin offering the United Through Reading military program at a second location, where USCENTCOM war fighters arrive to treat minor medical injuries.
USO Qatar and the United Through Reading military program is helping children of deployed service members learn the joys of reading, while developing meaningful connections and enhancing self esteem.
| Date Taken: | 10.13.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.13.2008 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 24898 |
| Location: | CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA |
| Web Views: | 617 |
| Downloads: | 497 |
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