Photo By Sgt. Jonathan Sosner | Trevor Romain speaks to a student after a presentation at Heroes Elementary School...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – For as long as United States service members have been deploying overseas, there have been children eagerly awaiting their family member’s return back home. All too often, the kids can be overlooked, with their needs getting pushed to the side in favor of mission readiness or a deployment.
Trevor Romain, a PBS Children’s TV personality, author, and renowned public speaker, gave two presentations to the children of military families on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C, Dec. 7, 2018. Romain spoke to students at Tarawa Terrace Elementary School, and Heroes Elementary School, listening to their experiences and giving them some helpful tips on how to cope with being in a military family.
“When it comes to many of the problems that these kids face, adults can’t always solve their problems,” said Romain. “We want the kids to be able to manage what they are going through, so we try and give them some tips, tricks, and tools to be able to figure out how to ask for support when they need it, and how to be part of a team.”
Over the past eight years, Romain and his non-profit organization, Comfort Crew, have toured around the world, visiting every American military base with children, speaking to and helping nearly half-a-million young people, according to their website.
“I was volunteering with the United Services Organization and asked if they have anyone speaking to kids,” said Romain. “After finding out that they did not, I volunteered to speak to military children at a base in Germany, where it was a huge success, and we have been traveling and presenting to schools ever since.”
Romain, who was in the South African Army himself, uses a number of different strategies to connect with the kids including comedy and animated videos.
“The kids love it,” said Romain. “We try to balance the laughter and the more serious parts together so they become more comfortable and willing to share what they are going through. We use the animation to communicate with the kids using their own language.”
Although Romain does the presentations for the children, they’re not the only ones who benefit.
“I’m an American by choice. I have been a proud citizen for 25 years, so this is really a way for me to give back to this amazing country,” he said. “Our military kids didn’t choose to be military kids. They’ve been through a lot and I’m honored to be able to help them.”
Romain’s non-profit just received a grant to provide deployment kits to children at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry point. The kits include a teddy bear, journal, dog tags, video and a book for parents. They can be ordered online at www.comfortcrew.org.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2018 08:37 |
| Story ID: | 303148 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 182 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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