Art from the HeartExpressions from
America’s Military Children
Visual arts & writing allow us a glimpse into the world of mili-tary children – as seen through their eyes. The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) believes that artistic expression is a pure, sincere and candid method children use to communi-cate pride in their parents, celebrate their military-connected lives, acknowledge their grief or worry, and so much more.
Since the MCEC began the “Call for the Arts,” thousands of military children – from all over the world, from every service, of all ages – have mailed us their drawings, their poems, and their interpretations of what it means to be a military child. We hope that what you see here paints a picture for you, too: a visual representation of these unique, resilient children mak-ing their own sacrifices and serving our country…
ABOUT THE MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, world-wide organization that identifies the challenges facing the highly mobile Military Child, increases awareness of these challenges in military and educational communities, and initiates and implements programs to meet the challenges. The MCEC focuses on all military installations, their supporting schools, concerned organizations, and caring individuals. For more information, please visit www.MilitaryChild.org.
“Military Child Education Coalition®,” “MCEC®” and associated trademarks and design elements are owned by the Military Child Education
Coalition. ©2013 Military Child Education Coalition. All Rights Reserved
AMERICA’S CHILDREN.
Aubrey | Grade 12 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Emily | Grade 5 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. Army
James | Grade 12 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Ixzel | Grade 9 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Jean | Grade 12 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Emily | Grade 5 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. Army
Military CHILDI am a military child. I’ve moved around all my life, and been to many places others haven’t, and seen things others haven’t seen. I’ve been exposed to different religions, cultures, languages, and ways of viewing the world. I’ve come to love other coun-tries, but also to appreciate my own. I’ve been inspired with a love of learning and knowledge, which has given me the desire to constantly dig for the roots of intelligence and compassion wherever I am.
Alexis | Grade 11 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Neysha | Grade 9 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Coast Guard
Lauren | Grade 11 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Kristen | Grade 10 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Victoria | Grade 10 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Miranda | Grade 9 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Tristen | Grade 9 | Dicovery Middle School | Madison, Alabama | U.S. Army
There are memories in each place that I’ll treasure.
The memories, experiences, and friends you make
and things you see are just priceless. Not many kids
my age can say that they’ve lived in a foreign coun-
try along with four other states in America. Being a
military child makes me who I am, and I couldn’t ask
for anything better.
Ashley | Grade 8 | Holloman Middle School | Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico | U.S. Air Force
Neyllie | Grade 12 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Military LifestyleBeing in a military family is difficult. Although
we all have to go through all the changes, moves and deployments, we are proud of
our soldier. He protects us not only under our
home, but also our country.
Jada | Grade 7 | Belle Chasse Academy | Belle Chasse, Louisiana | U.S. Marines
Stephanie | Grade 8 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Coast Guard
Kegan | Grade 4 | Wilson Elementary School | Fort Benning, Georgia | U.S. Army
Noe | Grade 8 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Army
Noe | Grade 8 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Army
Tashia | Grade 11 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRYMoving is hard, but fun at the same time. It
is hard to deal with the weather and schools,
but it’s really cool because you can meet new
people and move to new places. Even though
I miss my friends, I have new ones to keep me
company. I love this community! Moving to a
new place is full of new adventures!
Izzie | Grade 5 | E.A. White Elementary School | Fort Benning, Georgia | U.S. Army
Molly | Grade 3 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. Army
Kelly | Grade 3 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. National Guard & Reserve
Michael | Grade 7 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. National Guard & Reserve
Ann | Grade 4 | Swansboro Elementary School | Swansboro, North Carolina | U.S. Marines
Francarlo | Grade 11 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Coast Guard
Amy | Grade 9 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
DEPLOYMENT MATHHe’d missed so much during all those deploy-
ments, so much time spent away from home and
where he wanted to be. All those almost birthdays
since I was eight, and the gap-toothed first days
of school he missed…
I always tried not to concentrate on the statistics
because they just made me sad, and my dad
made a spreadsheet he called “Deployment
Math,” which was a list of everything he had
missed including eight consecutive anniversaries,
“most of my children’s formative years,” and
57.5% of 9.5 years at home.
Alison | Sophmore, University of Texas Austin, Texas | U.S. Army
Ricardo | Grade 12 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Army
Victor | Grade 7 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Army
Ricky | Grade 10 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | Federal Bureau of Investigation
Rebecca | Grade 3 | Santa Margarita Elementary School | Oceanside, California | U.S. Marines
Mattie | Grade 4 | Pinehurst Elementary School | Pinehurst, North Carolina | U.S. Air Force
Julia | Grade 5 | Clarence Galm Elementary School | San Antonio, Texas | U.S. Air Force
I don’t dream, for I have too much on my mind.
Jaeda Flores | Grade 8 | Holloman Middle School | Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico | U.S. Air Force
Angelina Amato | Grade 4 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. Army
Nichole Mitchell | Grade 7 | Holloman Middle School | Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico | U.S. Air Force
Brandi Reed | Grade 12 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Jalisa Arango | Grade 8 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Next Time I See You I’ll Be StrongerAs we left the checkout counter, I began to feelbad for my dad. He has to leave the people heloved most in the world. He looked down on meand said, “Keep up the good work, help yourmother with the babies, keep doing well in school,
and do the right thing, please.”
I realized that I was going to be okay. I had a
family that loved me and I would see my dad in
six months.
Nadine Alvarado | Grade 8 | Holloman Middle School | Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico | U.S. Air Force
Campbell Rogers | Grade 4 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. Air Force
Isis Bradshaw | Grade 6 | Belle Chasse Academy | Belle Chasse Academy | Belle Chasse, Louisiana | U.S. Navy
Ruben Diaz | Grade 10 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Army
Stephanie N. Cole | Grade 12 | Hohenfels MIddle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
Alicia R. Berrios | Grade 11 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army
SelflessThere is the face of a soldier, who has chosen to
put duty and honor to his country above all else.
He has sacrificed holidays at home, missed
milestones in the lives of his children, and left his
seat at the dinner table empty too many times to
provide for the common defense.
He has selflessly spent months at a time in harsh
conditions to protect his country and preserve
the freedom and security Americans experience
in their daily routines.
Alison Simerly | Grade 12 | Belton High School | Belton, Texas | U.S. Army
Tiffany L. Hernandez | Grade 7 | Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Air Force
ABOUT THE MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, world-wide organization that identifies the challenges facing the highly mobile Military Child, increases awareness of these challenges in military and educational communities, and initiates and implements programs to meet the challenges. The MCEC focuses on all military installations, their supporting schools, concerned organizations, and caring individuals. For more information, please visit www.MilitaryChild.org.
“Military Child Education Coalition®,” “MCEC®” and associated trademarks and design elements are owned by the Military Child Education
Coalition. ©2013 Military Child Education Coalition. All Rights Reserved
CONTACT:Military Child Education Coalition
909 Mountain Lion Circle • Harker Heights, TX 76548Office: (254) 953-1923 • Fax: (254) 953-1925
[email protected] CFC # 10261
www.MilitaryChild.org
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