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                         May 3, 2002

A day of fun for post military children

Story and Photos by Kathy Eastwood
Staff Writer

Community members young and old gathered at the U.S. Military Academy’s Ski Lodge Saturday for a day of frolic in honor of Month of the Military Child.

Casper Weinberger, Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan, designated April as the Month of the Military child in 1986. Since then, military bases throughout the United States and all over the world sponsor events to celebrate the over one million young military dependents.

Kim Tague, Director of the Family Support Division here, and coordinator of the Month of the Military Child events, said the West Point community celebrates this every year.

"There is usually a week in April that is dedicated totally for observance of the military child," she said.

This year’s celebration featured a picnic at the lodge along with various entertainers like Frisbee the clown and children’s’ singer Tom Weber. There were also numerous activities such as face painting, horseback and ski-lift riding.

Above: At the Bounce-n-Fun attraction, kids were encouraged to literally "bounce off the walls." Right:    Director of Cadet and Family Activities, Tony Brown (left) and Don Hulst from Youth Services cook up goodies for the kid’s to enjoy.

Above starting clockwise: Baby Elizabeth Coffee enjoys the sights securely attached to her mother Janelle.  The ski lift was a popular ride among both parents and kids.  Joseph Roberts (3) takes a ride on one of the horses provided by Morgan Farm.  West Point community member Cynthia Hargrow and her daughter, Alex, pose with Frisbee the Clown during Saturday’s Annual Month of the Military Child event at the West Point Ski Lodge. Children and their parents enjoyed numerous activities from pony rides to sailing up and away on a ski lift chair.