Military Child Education Coalition Children's Art Show

Christina | Grade 5 John B. Dey Elementary | Virginia Beach, Virginia

Art

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Heart

Expressions from America’s Military Children

Visual arts and writing allow us a glimpse into the world of military children from their unique perspectives. The Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®) believes artistic expression is a pure, sincere, and candid way for children to communicate pride in their parents, celebrate their lives, acknowledge their grief or worry, and much more.

Since the MCEC began the “Call for the Arts,” thousands of military children from across the world and from every branch of service have mailed us their drawings, poems, and interpretations of what it means to be a military child. We hope what you see here paints a poignant picture for you, too. Enjoy this visual representation of our 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, worldwide organization that identifies challenges facing the highly mobile military child, increases awareness of these challenges in military and education 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. ©2015 Military Child Education Coalition. All Rights Reserved

Art

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Alana | Grade 5 Netzaberg Elementary School | Netzaberg, Germany | U.S. Army

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Amelia | Grade 5 White Oaks Elementary | Virginia Beach, Virginia | U.S. Navy

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Michelle | Grade 5 Netzaberg Elementary School | Netzaberg, Germany | U.S. Army

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Karlie | Grade 4 Hermitage Elementary | Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Navy

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Camille | Grade 12 Bayside High School | Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Navy

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Sydney | Grade 1 Christopher Farms Elementary | Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Navy

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Alanis | Grade 10 Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Homeland Security, CBP

James | Grade 3 Windsor Oak Elementary | Virginia Beach, VA

Roxanne | Grade 6 Virginia Beach Middle School

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Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Marines

Art

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Milsia | Grade 5 Richlands Elementary | Richlands, North Carolina | U.S. Marines

When I created this, I was thinking of all the tears I had shed when my mom and dad were deployed, that’s the reason I chose a teardrop to draw, but I know they were going for a reason, to support America which is why I decided to make it into an American flag.

Emily | Grade 7 Heidelberg Middle School | Heidelberg, Germany | U.S. Army

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Kaya | Grade 5 Shelton Park Elementary School | Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Marines

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Tiffany | Grade 10 Green Run Collegiate | Virginia Beach, VA

Amanda | Grade 7 Eastern Hills Middle School | Harker Heights, TX | U.S. Army

Madison | Grade 4 Redmill Elementary | Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Army

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Tia | Grade 9 Bayside High School | Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Marines

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Lily | Grade 8 Landstown Middle School | Virginia Beach, VA

Under The Loose-Leaf Tree I look up as the branches sway.

They begin to sing.

The sunshine is their backdrop, And they are center stage.

The shadows dance and leap around me.

The leaves serenade me.

They clash together, Like a chattering tambourine.

I close my eyes and listen, The beat starts to slow.

It is gentle as the willow, Smooth as the petals of a rose.

I awoke from my reverie, I tried to touch the sun.

The canopy swayed, The song was not done.

A large limb was below me, My eyes to the robins.

They fluttered and preened.

An encore had been called.

The branches clapped, And a pace had been set.

The wind roared like a tidal wave.

I was pulled in, By the assembly of caroling leaves.

The wind died like daisies in the winter.

I open my eyes.

The backdrop is dark, The spotlight is gone.

I was once again, Under the loose-leaf tree.

NICK | Grade 11

Carlisle High School | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | US Army

Art

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Whitney | Grade 12 Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army

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Kacey | Grade 9 Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army

Military Child Cultural Experiences I am a military child and have been stationed in Germany for several years. I’ve been to so many places. I’ve been to Spain, Switzerland, Rome, France, and many funny named castles. The castles are very confusing to remember because, they’re all in German.

When I went to Spain we saw some cultural Flamenco dancing at a nice restaurant.

We also took a trip to the beach and were attacked by darting sand. In a park we took a paddling boat ride but all we did was spin in circles. My family and a friend also went to a play of Beauty and the Beast in Spanish so my mom and her friend were the only ones who understood it.

When we went to Rome we saw an old coliseum that was used for a large variety of entertainment. One way of entertainment they would have is letting a wild animal loose in a maze with a prisoner. We attended a mass with the Pope and I did not understand one word he said. Then we enjoyed a historical museum where we listened to a little thing that tells us what we’re looking at. The little things are so fun to rewind over and over again.

The trip to Switzerland was for a popular snow sport, skiing. Switzerland was amazing because I learned a new sport and had some laughs along the way. The funniest thing was my brother stopped the chair lilft because his ski came off.

The most exhausting part was being taught to ski. After I finished my ski lesson it felt like I had asthma I just couldn’t believe how young some of the skiing kids were.

France was my favorite because my family and I saw the classics such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Venice where the city nearly flooded. My favorite thing was when I fed the pigeons under the Eiffel Tower and more kept on coming and I even ended up with a couple of seagulls fighting for the food.

Being a military child has its advantages, and because I live overseas I get to explore the wide world around me. Someday I hope you can explore new places like I have.

Alyssa | Grade 5 Ramstein Intermediate School | Ramstein, Germany | U.S. Air Force

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Jeanessa | Grade 6 Bayside Middle School | Virginia Beach, VA | Department of Defense

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Ben | Grade 5 Bluewater Elementary | Niceville, Florida | U.S. Air Force

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Heart

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Vanessa

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Grade 6

Virginia Beach Middle School | Virginia Beach, VA

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National Guard and Reserve

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

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Morgan | Grade 12 Hohenfels Middle High School | Hohenfels, Germany | U.S. Army

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Blanca | Grade 12 Ramey School | Anasco, Puerto Rico | U.S. Customs

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Rowan | Grade 3 Clarence Galm Elementary | San Antonio, TX | U.S. Air Force

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Antonio | Grade 5 Green Run Elementary School | Virginia Beach, VA

Rodrigo | Grade 6 Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | U.S. Customs and Border Patrol

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Nevin | Grade 11 Princess Anne High School | Virginia Beach, VA | U.S. Navy

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Diana | Grade 4 Green Run Elementary | Virginia Beach, VA

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Valeria

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Heart

Grade 9

Ramey School | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

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1

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Ensuring opportunities for a great education The Military Child Education Coalition速 solely exists to help the military and veteran-connected child thrive in the face of transition and separation. www.MilitaryChild.org

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