MOMC event takes place Saturday at Pulaski Park

by Christine June
USAG Kaiserslautern

The 435th Services Squadron and U.S. Army Garrison-Kaiserslautern’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation are hosting the KMC Month of the Military Child Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Pulaski Park on Pulaski Barracks.

Meant as a closeout event celebrating April as MOMC, the celebration will unite resources, talents and staff from the Air Force and Army and result in offering more activities, games, information booths and entertainment, said Dorothy Choate, 435th Services’ Family Member Program Flight chief.

Activities planned for this event are: Obstacle course, science and art, Sumo wrestling, boxing, tattoo and face-painting, art and crafts, bean bag toss, bobbin’ for ducks, making beads and necklaces, horseshoes and a ring toss. Several more are in the works with many of these activities being broken down into different age groups.

Parents are not left out either as there will be information booths from both military branches, such as the Air Force’s Airman & Family Readiness Center and the garrison’s Army Community Service.

Entertainment will be showcased at two platforms during the event and will again be a combined effort with both services’ youth programs performing, as well as the Kaiserslautern High School’s Step Team. Storytelling and puppet shows will be performed by staff from the Air Force and Army libraries.

Bouncy castles, the garrison’s Kiddie Train and the Air Force’s fire trucks will also be at this year’s event. Even costume characters will be walking around the park greeting children and their parents.

“We are going to take this (MOMC event) as our lead and we are going to do other events throughout the rest of the year,” said Belynda Smith, the garrison’s FMWR Child, Youth and School Services chief. “It’s just a very smart idea for us partner on events like these because we both have Air Force and Army, and right now, Navy, families in our programs – so it’s just smart to do this for military families.”

Mrs. Choate agreed, saying there are several events that are in the planning stages now, such as the America’s Armed Forces Kids Run in May and Boys & Girls Club Day for kids in September.

Since 1986, the Department of Defense, military services and communities around the world celebrate MOMC in April to recognize the importance of military children whose parents serve their country.