Art from the Heart - Expressions from America's Military Children by Military Child Education Coalition

Art from the Heart Expressions from Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Military Children

Visual arts & writing allow us a glimpse into the world of military 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 communicate 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 making their own sacrifices and serving our country…

AMERICA’S CHILDREN.

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

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

Military CHILD I 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 countries, 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.

Emily | Grade 5 | Carlisle Barracks Youth Art | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | U.S. Army

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 country 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 Lifestyle Being 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

Tashia | Grade 11 | Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army

MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY Moving is hard, but fun at the same time. It is hard to deal with the weather and schools, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 MATH He’d missed so much during all those deployments, 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 donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Stronger As we left the checkout counter, I began to feel bad for my dad. He has to leave the people he loved most in the world. He looked down on me and said, “Keep up the good work, help your mother 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

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

Selfless There 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

CONTACT: Military Child Education Coalition 909 Mountain Lion Circle • Harker Heights, TX 76548 Office: (254) 953-1923 • Fax: (254) 953-1925 Helen.McCarty@MilitaryChild.org CFC # 10261

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ABOUT THE MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION