LES highlights Month of the Military Child

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Felicia Welch
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  As the lights dimmed and the audience fell silent, children of RAF Lakenheath Elementary School stepped out on stage to celebrate the Month of the Military Child with a play. 

The performance was a brainchild of first-grade teacher, De De Brown-Johnson. Her work highlighted the experience of the military child across all five services, as well as showing off their diverse ethnic backgrounds. 

"I have written a lot of plays, but this is the first play I've written for the Month of the Military Child," said Mrs. Brown-Johnson. "I wanted to do something special for them, to role play, so the children can say 'this is what our lives are like and we're proud of it.'"
The performers came from all grades in the school and were very excited about participating in this event. 

"The play was a lot of fun," said kindergartner Amelia Campbell, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Chris Campbell, 48 Fighter Wing Public Affairs chief of internal information. Amelia, playing a British-American, enjoyed the weeks of preparation that went into making the whole thing possible. 

"The kids were working really hard," said Tanya Campbell, Amelia's mother. "We would come to pick them up at 4:30 p.m. and they'd still be practicing." 

It was standing room only in the Lakenheath Elementary gymnasium as parents, teachers, children and more than a few distinguished visitors enjoyed the show. 

Afterwards Col. Jay Silveria, 48th Fighter Wing commander, and Col. Eden Murrie, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, represented the President and First Lady accepting the "Key to the Heart of a Military Child", an award the children from the school give to people who have helped the military child's cause. 

"The President and Mrs. Obama have a heart for military children," said Mrs. Brown-Johnson. "It was so kind of the two wing commanders to accept this award on their behalf." 

The parents, teachers and Airmen who came and watched the show left with a new understanding of what it means to be a military child. 

"The event was a success," according to Mrs. Brown-Johnson. "Out of my 27 years in Department of Defense Dependent Schools, this play is going to be the one I remember, the cream of the crop! The children let their voices be heard and performed in grand style!"