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| Military Program > Testimonials |
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Command Ombudsman
"It enhances the morale
of service members by providing them
with a meaningful way of communicating
with their families during deployments."
 Deployed
Participants
"I absolutely loved participating in the program,
and plan to do it again as soon as I get more tapes.
This is the first deployment for me and my children,
and I know it's hard on them. As soon as I finished
making my tape, I rushed straight to the post office
to mail it home. I can't wait to hear their reaction
to it! My daughter always loved for me to read stories
to her before bedtime when I was home, and I think
that it will mean the world to her to be able to continue
that even though I'm gone. Many, many thanks!"
"I received an e-mail from my
wife with the following text:
She (my daughter) has watched
the tape 3 times, she keeps watching
it, and at the end, when you sang
her the Barney song, she ran out
here and yelled, "Mommy! Daddy
singing Barney song to me!!!!" She
is going to go to bed every night
to this tape now!!! You keep doing
those tapes, because it is really
good for me and her! It gets us
through.
I have to say that every time I read
that, I feel closer to home and it
brings a tear to my eye."
Participants' Spouses
"When we received our first tape the children
couldn't get to the VCR fast enough!"
"My daughter is only 10 months
old right now, but she crawled to the
TV, pulled herself up and plastered
herself against the screen and said "Da
Da." Every time we watch it (and
we watch it often), she reacts as if
he were actually here. Can't tell you
how much we BOTH enjoy having this
video."
"I personally have taken pictures
and videotaped our children's responses
to the tape they received from their
Sailor dad. Because it has been played
over and over again, our son has much
of the book memorized and recites it
as he holds on to the book. Friends
who have come over and witnessed this "reading" of
the book are amazed, not because he's
only four years old, but because he
has autism, and can see that he is
enjoying each and every time he sees
his dad on video.
I will be sending a tape to their
dad so that he can also see the effect
that he has on them, even though he's
so far away. Recently our son was watching
the tape and moved a chair up to the
TV so he could reach it since it was
high on the dresser. He first touched
the screen, touching his dad's cheeks
and then he hugged the TV. He didn't
say a word, but he didn't have to...
his actions were enough. I e-mailed
my husband and told him "Keep
them coming!! He hears you, he sees
you and he knows you love him!!" For
a child with autism, it's a wonderful
thing to know."
Deployment
Coordinators
"The Seabees were
so grateful for this program especially
during the Battalion's involvement
in Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom.
It was a great resource of communication
among service members and their families
in a war environment in which communication
(home) was not available."
"It really makes me feel good
inside to do this for the crew. Sure
it's a bit hard sometimes to see a
grown man get choked up and it gives
me a lump in my throat, but when he
leaves and tells me thank you over
and over again, that makes EVERYTHING
with the program worthwhile. Every
week at least 20 people from the ship
sign up to read to their sons, daughters,
not even born babies, nieces and nephews, "adopted
classes" -- the amount of children "touched" by
this program from the Mustin alone
is huge! Of all of the collateral duties
that I hold, this one alone is the
only one that brings me COMPLETE satisfaction
that I am doing something worthwhile
not only for me and the crew, but the
families back home and around the states!"
Command Ombudsman
"It enhances the morale
of service members by providing them
with a meaningful way of communicating
with their families during deployments."
Command Chaplain
"Let me say once again
how much 'my guys' enjoyed the project.
In fact several of them had not read
for any one before assisting in this
and then came back to read for cousins,
nieces or nephews."
Command Leadership
"The UNITED THROUGH READING
Program is without a doubt one of the
top quality of life programs available
to our Sailors today. This program
has allowed our Sailors to maintain "family
ties" with our most precious resource,
our children. I have received numerous
e-mails during our deployment from
families thanking us for the exceptional
program . . .The program is perfect
in my mind."
"Your program is outstanding.
Please pass [on] my appreciation to
everyone at UNITED THROUGH READING
for the great support and for providing
another way to develop our youth as
well as allowing the family relationships
to grow closer together during times
of separation."
Testimonials
Letter from Admiral
Archie Clemins, USN, Ret.
Letter from USS
BonHomme Richard
Letter from USS
Nashville
Email from Petty Officer Durel, USS
Mobile Bay
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