Family Matters June 2016

Volume 7 Issue 6 June 2016

2016 Volunteer Workshop Pet Appreciation

Summer Camp Opportunities And more‌

Family Matters

June 2016 Diane Coffill State Family Programs Director diane.l.coffill.civ@mail.mil (984) 664-6324 MSG Ramona Robertson State Family Programs Specialist ramona.k.robertson.mil@mail.mil (984) 664-7005 SSG Tammy Fowler State Family Programs Assistant tammy.l.fowler.mil@mail.mil (984) 664-6876 Lana Greer State FAC Coordinator lana.m.greer.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-1667 Alice Dean Lead Child and Youth Coordinator alice.c.dean.ctr@mail.mil (984) 664-6676 David Nobles Outreach Coordinator david.m.nobles.ctr@mail.mil (984) 664-6721 Terry Henderson Airman and Family Readiness Program Manager terry.r.henderson3.civ@mail.mil (704) 389-4949 About Family Matters Family Matters was created to provide Service Members and their Families the most up to date information and services available. If you would like to contribute to future issues, please contact SSG Tammy Fowler @ tammy.l.fowler.mil@mail.mil

References in this newsletter to specific commercial products, processes, services or the use of any trade, firm corporation name does not constitute endorsement, recommendation or favoring by NCNG Family Programs

A Message from the Director It’s June! I can’t believe it. It’s time for school to be out, kids to go to camp, families to go on summer vacation and mom & dad to go crazy! What a wonderful time of the year!

As you look through this month’s Family Matters, please pay particular attention to the flyer on the USO RESET events for both spouses and families. These are great 2-day events sponsored by the USO of North Carolina that are FREE for you to attend.

Also, you will see the “Save the Date” flyer for the 2016 NCNG Volunteer Workshop which will be held August 1921. Our NCNG Volunteers are a wonderful asset to not only Family Programs but to ALL the units and families they serve. This is an opportunity to learn more about all the programs available through NCNG to assist our Service Members and their families. More information to follow but be sure to mark your calendars for this very important date.

Have you ever watched your four-legged family members do something crazy and wondered if anyone else saw that? I know I have! Since there’s not an official Pet Appreciation Day/Month, we thought that we would show our pets a little love this month. Take a few minutes to look at all the really great pet photos (there’s a lot) They keep us smiling and are such a big part of our families.

As we get ready for the summer, many parents are wondering what camps to allow their children to attend. Our NCNG Child & Youth Program has some great camp opportunities this summer. Please take a look at the camp flyers inside to get all the details. We look forward to seeing your children again this year. And for the NEW KIDS– it’s a great opportunity to have some fun and meet other NCNG kids as well.

In addition to the “regular” kind of camp, we also have a great opportunity for our teens who are age 14 to rising high school seniors. How would you like to go to college for a few days to see what it’s really like? Well here’s your chance. Get information inside on the “College-2-Career” Preparation and readiness. Parents, it’s a great opportunity to get your teen prepared for college.

Ever wonder how to get more fruits and veggies in your diet or your kid’s diet? Well we have some tips for you to help you “sneak” more nutrition into their diet and yours.

The Prosper Program is for Military Families who have children ages 10-12. This is a free program for families in the Craven, Cumberland, Harnett, Mecklenburg, Onslow, Wake and Wayne counties. You can receive up to $400 for completing 4 one hour interviews. Find the details inside this issue.

I know that Memorial Day is the last Monday in May and it’s June already, but we have a great story about SPC Leon “Reece” Penland that was submitted by his mother, Irene. Reece was killed while serving on State Active Duty. Please take the time to read this very touching story.

Also inside this issue, you will find a helpful article on how to stay busy with your family this summer. See how many you can check off your to-do-list. There is also a great article from Military OneSource about bullying. How many of you were ever bullied? We want the best for our children and we don’t want to be bullied nor do we want them to be a bully. Let’s start talking to them now and pay attention to what they are truly saying and doing.

As always, I want to remind you that we’re here for you every day. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need us or just want more information on programs, benefits or resources. If we don’t have the information, we’ll point you in the right direction. We hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Family Matters and have a great beginning of summer!

Diane

Table of Contents 5

Save the Date: 2016 Volunteer Workshop

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Pet Appreciation

14 5 Ways to Sneak in Fruits & Veggies 15 PROSPER: Promoting Strong Military Families 16 Remembering Our Fallen: SPC Leon “Reece” Penland 18 25 Essential Summer Activities 20 Bullying: How to Identify and Address Peer Aggression 21 2016 Teen Retreat: College-2-Career Prep & Readiness

If you would like to submit photos or stories for future issues of Family Matters, please contact SSG Tammy Fowler at tammy.l.fowler.mil@mail.mil

On the cover: Willow Foxy– super dog :) SSG Tammy Fowler

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Pet Appreciation Families members come in all shapes and sizes and some of them even have four legs. Those of us who are pet owners, understand that our furry little family members are just as much an important part of our families as anyone else. Being a part of a military family takes a toll on them as well and in some cases, these special pets help their military parents get through some tough times and provide the comfort and love that we all need from time to time. Ok, so there is no REAL Military Pet Appreciation Day or Month (or at least not that we are aware of) but we think there should be. So this month we are honoring our favorite furry fourlegged family members and letting the world know just how much they mean to us! Warning: it’s way too much cuteness to handle!!

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“Quinn”

“Elsa”

“Socks”

SPC Zach Shea

SGT Britney Young

MSG Ramona Robertson

“Darla” “Bella”, “Drake”, “Sasha” & “Crash” SFC Brian Monroe CW2 Kenneth Krise & CW2 Rhonda Krise

“Murphy”

“Bailey & Scarlett”

Courtney Coyle

SSG Ken Martinsen

“Bella & Buddy” SFC Adam Garrity 7

“Luna” SSG Ashley Carr “Sophie & Chloe” SGT Alisha Gilliam

“Harley” Haleigh Harrison

“Puppies” “Molly” Sandy Harrison

Dave & Diane Coffill

“Mr. Cheeks” CW3 Robert HIntz

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“Sackett” “Dusty” Wendi Bell

SFC Harold Gray “Caesar” SFC Semra Leary

“Ava” SGT Matthew Forester

“Bo & Bubba” CBTC

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“Kenai & Mathilda” SFC (Ret) David Nobles

“Daisy”, “Yogi”, “Sebastian” “Sophia & “Lucky” MAJ Sara Day

“Lulu” SFC Frankie Anderson

“Elliot” & “Zoe” SFC (Ret) David Nobles “Willow Foxy” SSG Tammy Fowler 10

“Molly” SSG Jeffrey Whitman

“Sugar” “Zoey”

SGT Joshua Duncan

SGT Cornelia Stahlhut

“Sirius, Caesar, & Ellie” SSG Chris Brophy

“Tito” “Josie”

SFC April Smith

SGT Britney Young

“Sirius” SSG Chris Brophy 11

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Ways to Sneak In Fruits and Veggies

You’ve always heard that fruits and veggies are good for you. But do you know why? Filling up on fruits and veggies will help you stay fit, reduce your risk of developing a disease, and keep your digestive system running smoothly. With just a little planning, you can find fruits and veggies that are affordable, and keep them within reach for meals and snacks. Here are five tips on how to get more fruits and veggies into your daily diet.

1. Look for color When choosing what to put on your plate, pick fruits and veggies that are full of color. Eating a variety of colors helps you get the nutrients your body needs to function properly. Nutritionists recommend choosing foods that are dark green, red, and orange. Think kale, spinach, broccoli, red peppers, tomatoes, and carrots.

2. Take your pick If getting your daily dose of fresh fruits or veggies is hard for you, consider buying them dried, canned, or frozen. No matter which kind you choose, make sure the fruit and veggies are low in salt and sugar. Can’t stand raw vegetables? Toss your veggies into a pan and steam, sauté, or roast them with a little seasoning of your choice. Don’t like the texture of whole fruit? Pick up a package of dried fruit instead.

3. Mix and match Combine vegetables or fruit with your favorite foods. Here are some ideas: 

Pile berries or banana slices on top of yogurt or cereal. Try this Yogurt and Berry Breakfast Parfait.



Mix chopped mushrooms and onions into ground meat for your burgers, chili, or meatloaf.

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Use a lettuce wrap in place of hamburger and hot dog buns or taco shells.

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Doctor up soup and pasta sauce with added cans of diced tomatoes, mushrooms, or beans.

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Chop up any veggies on hand and stir them into a casserole.

4. Pack for the office or on-the-go Always have fruit or veggies on hand to fight mid-afternoon cravings. Some easy choices are: 

Keep dried fruit at your desk or in your car.

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Bag some baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, and/or pepper slices.

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Grab an orange, banana, or apple on your way out the door.

5. Balance food and drink versions Try making your own smoothies. Or pick a 100-percent fruit juice, such as orange or grapefruit juice, for a quick fix first thing in the morning. Nutritionists support swapping out one daily serving of whole fruit or veggie for liquid form. Be careful though! Store bought fruit and veggie drinks can be filled with extra sugar and calories so make sure you read the nutrition label before buying.

Article courtesy of www.guardyourhealth.com

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Remembering Our Fallen: SPC Leon “Reece” Penland Det 2, 210th MP Co Died while on SAD Sep 1999

Gone but never forgotten.

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Irene Penland mother of SPC Leon “Reece” Penland, took time to share with us how she and her family remember their fallen hero. The following was submitted by her:

Leon Reece Penland Jr. joined the National Guard in the spring after his seventeenth birthday. He had a strong desire to serve his country and chose the National Guard to fulfill that purpose. He also had friends serving in the Guard. Reece and I had many conversations about him joining the military and there were even those who tried to talk him out of joining but he never budged. He was adamant about joining and he even told me once that if it meant he had to die for his country then he was willing to do so. I saw how determined he was to join and knew I wasn’t going to stand in his way. I had to support him no matter what. It wasn’t long until his dad and I signed papers giving our consent and then he was off to Boot Camp in Ft. McClellan, AL. He graduated as a Military Police Officer on November 8, 1996. Reece was a member of the 210th Military Police Company in Murphy, NC. Reece traveled and had many experiences in the National Guard. He met many people and made many new friends.

One of his favorite assignments was helping with the Special Olympics in Raleigh, NC. He kept talking about the special needs children he met and how he had made new “buddies.” Reece enjoyed being in the National Guard and had even talked about making the military his career. He was very excited about his career choice and had been getting guidance from another National Guard Soldier.

In June of 1997, Reece was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for outstanding performance during annual training in Panama City. While there, he also made many friends. I received a letter from one of those friends that he met during this time and the letter stated that Reece befriended him at a time when he really needed a friend. I really appreciated this letter so much and was reminded that making new friends was so natural for Reece.

Reece was called to State Active Duty and left September 18, 1999 as part of a massive NCNG effort to assist with the Hurricane Floyd disaster. He was assisting the Brunswick County Law Enforcement Agency by providing a uniformed presence on security patrols as well as assisting flood victims. He was tragically killed at approximately 10:30pm. Sixteen years have passed since Reece’s death, sometimes it seems longer, but other times it seems like it happened just yesterday.

Reece’s siblings, Tarena and Robert, were older than Reece and protected him. Nobody messed with Reece. Tarena and Robert both supported his decision to join the military. They knew their little brother had grown up. They were so proud of him. Brooke, Reece’s niece, was only 11 years old at the time of his death but Reece was the perfect uncle and always took care of her. He was always there to make sure she never got off the bus without someone being at home. Brooke and Reece were so close. Brooke wrote, “I will never understand why he was taken from us but I will try to let the parts of him that I know shine through me and pass them along to my children.”

There isn’t a day that goes by without remembering our son. We think about all the things that could have been but will never be. He was so full of life and enjoyed every minute of it. There is so much to remember about Reece and we do remember. We, as a family, never want Reece to be forgotten. We honor him every year by giving a “Reece Penland Scholarship” to a deserving student. Approximately a year and a half after Reece’s death, our son Robert and his wife Renee, had a son and named him after Reece. What an honor! We placed a United States flag above our house, along with Police Hall of Fame flag, in his memory. Reece was inducted into the Police Hall of Fame in 2000 and his name, rank, department affiliated city and state is etched into a marble column at the Memorial Museum in Titusville, FL . We received the Police Hall of Fame Posthumous Medal of Honor after Reece’s death.

The family photograph which once consisted of five, now only has four. One is gone and our family will never be the same without Reece. We remain a close family and get together often but there will always be a void without him .

There is always the sense that someone is missing. We haven’t gotten over losing Reece. Grief still grabs us at times, never in the sequence it’s written but different stages at different times. Parents go on living and functioning, but carry the hurt in their hearts every day. Our faith in God is our stability. Life goes on and we know we will never see Reece in this life again but we believe we will see him again in eternity for eternity.

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25 Essential Summer Activities Get your family active this summer with this selection of kid-friendly ways to have fun together.

See how many of these you and your family can check off your summer to-do list.

1. Make your own box car. You know the saying “give them the toy, they’ll play with the box”? Here’s your chance to take it that one step further for hours of creative fun.

2. Go fishing. Fishing can be such a relaxing pastime. Head out to your favorite lake or river and spend some quality time with your family. See who can catch the biggest fish... or the oldest boot.

3. Take a family road trip. Take the family on the road this summer. Between the car games, the new places to discover and the special time spent together, it will be an experience you will remember forever.

4. Chase an ice cream truck. Next time the ice cream truck comes to your neighborhood, let it get a bit ahead and chase it down for your favorite soft-serve cone. It's like an adventure in your own front yard.

5. Make mud pies. Who doesn't love a good pie? Even though this kind isn't of the edible variety, mud pies are easy to make and allow kids to let their imaginations run wild.

6. Build a sandcastle. Sandcastles are great because they can be as modest or extravagant as you have the patience to make. Plus, they're so much fun to smash. Get your pail shovel and head for the beach!

7. Go stargazing. Looking up at the stars on a clear night is beautiful and fascinating, especially if you've got a telescope in tow. See how many constellations you can find or how many different shapes you can find out there in the universe.

8. Have a Nerf war. One little Nerf pistol is able to provide hours of entertainment to a child. Take the family out to the park and discover who has the best aim.

9. Go to the zoo. Learn about your favorite animal at the zoo this summer.

Many zoos have special activities planned for little ones, so make sure to look up what's happening ahead of time to maximize your fun.

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10. Plant a garden. Growing a garden with your kids is nature. a great way to get them to learn to nurture something 18. Have a water fight. A water fight is a from seed to bloom. There is no better feeling than great way to cool off while having fun. Who seeing your hard work pay off with a needs a pool when you've got a water squirter beautiful flower or a delicious vegetable. loaded and ready to go?

Get your kids involved by letting them 19. Go to a drive-in. A drive-in is an inexpensive way to pick out their favorites and helping you see a movie since there's usually a two-for-one deal out as much as they can. and kids are admitted for free. There's a unique 11. Paint rocks. Spruce up your garden or walkway with experience in getting the trunk set up for the ideal custom painted rocks by your little artist. If you're an movie-watching experience and trying your hardest to apartment dweller, painted rocks make great paper stay awake for the second movie. You can even bring weights. your own snacks from home.

12. Put on a family show. Brush up on your acting, 20. Blow bubbles. Bubbles can keep kids entertained for singing and dancing skills by putting together a hours. They enjoy blowing them, chasing family show. Have your little ones come up with fun them and even popping them. Have some ideas, like a magic show, singing a song (Let it Go!) or fun with bubbles this summer. If it's writing a story. Too shy to show anyone the final raining outside, you can always pop some result? Video tape it and watch it together. bubble wrap instead.

13. Camp in your own backyard. Grab 21. Fly a kite. Mary Poppins said it best: "Let's go fly a the marshmallows and sleeping bags kite, up to the highest height!" When the wind is just and have a fun camping trip in your right, there's nothing better than watching your kite own backyard. This is also a great dance in the sky. Personalize the experience option for younger kids who might not be ready to by making your kite by hand. spend a night in the woods.

22. Have a picnic. Picnics don't have to include only ham 14. Run through the sprinklers. On those hot and humid sandwiches and fruit. With minimal prep, it's easy to summer days when there's no pool available and a cool get a practically gourmet meal outside with you and -down becomes necessary, try running through the your family. Follow your feast with a nice walk or by sprinkler. There will be nothing but squeals of joy playing in the park. coming from your children, no matter how many 23. Feed the ducks. Make some new animal friends by times they've tried to outrun it. bringing some corn to the park and feeding the ducks.

15. Make your own car wash. Sometimes doing chores See how many types of birds you can attract and how can be fun! Get the family outside on a sunny day and close you can get to them without scaring them off. wash the car. Have a mini competition to see who can Maybe your new friend will even follow you home. shammy the fastest. And of course, the more bubbles Remember, while ducks love bread, it's not an ideal there are, the better. snack for them.

16. Play with sidewalk chalk. The best part 24. Make s’mores. The combination of chocolate, about sidewalk chalk is the fact that there marshmallows and graham crackers is a classic, is usually a big, empty canvas available in especially when there's a campfire around. This gooey, your neighborhood and that it is quite delicious treat is a family favorite and fun to make! easy to erase and start again when you've run out of 25. Watch the sunset. The perfect end to the perfect day room. See if you have the next Monet or Picasso in always involves a sunset. Watching the sky go from your family, and who can draw the biggest picture blue, to orange, yellow and pink and finally to the dark with the most colors. night sky never gets old.

17. Pick wildflowers. Wildflowers are everywhere! Next For more, check out Today’s Parent at time you pass some, why not pick a bouquet to put in a www.todaysparent.com/family. vase at your house? You can never get too much of 19

Bullying: How to Identify and Address Peer Aggression Article Courtesy of Military OneSource

Sticks and stones can break your bones and words can also hurt a child in immeasurable ways—even a tough military child. Bullying, or peer aggression, is any behavior—verbal or physical—directed at peers and intended to cause harm. It can cause stress for the child being bullied, the bully and you, the parents.

And it is more common than you think. Some people shrug off bullying as a child being a leader or they assume it is just a passing phase. But kids who use peer aggression can have long-lasting issues like isolation from peer, academic difficulties and even bigger behavior problems.

Consequences of Bullying

narrow down the underlying cause(s) of the aggression and come up with suggestions for how to deal with the behavior. 

Monitor the child to help figure out what triggers negative or aggressive behaviors. Doe the child become aggressive or angry in situations that might make him or her feel insecure? Being aware of those triggers can help shape conversations with the professionals and with teachers or administrators.



Work with your school and other parents to set up school-based programs to address bullying.

Programs should explain what bullying is, but they should also give kids examples of positive behaviors and problem-solving techniques. They should provide educational opportunities, instead of focusing solely on removing aggressive students from the classroom.



Talk to your kids about bullying. Equip them with the necessary skills to deal with bullies and to prevent them from becoming one.



Seek help or encourage the bully’s parents to seek help if there are relationship problems or domestic violence at home.

Often, children who bully others: Are disliked by their non-aggressive peers, which may cause them to hang out with other aggressive children, worsening their 

behavior. 



Perform poorly in school and face detention, suspension and expulsion.

Continue negative behaviors as adults, including criminal behavior and often have trouble with their relationships and problems at work.

Bullies aren’t born that way. So many different things could be contributing to their behaviors. Taking the time to get to know the Aggressive kids need support from caring adults. There is a lot you can child, understanding what might be behind those aggressive behaviors, do to help them—and indirectly help the kids being bullied, too. and teaching better coping and social skills can help that child get back  Create a plan for addressing the behavior that is specific to the on the right track toward a successful and well-adjusted child. There is no one-size-fits-all model. Professionals can help adulthood.

Turning a Bully into a Softie

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Family Assistance Centers

Statewide Support

Charlotte Unit Family Contact Center 4240 West Blvd. 28208 Carry Bandy: carry.s.bandy.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-4573 Anthony Moore: anthony.r.moore8.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-4547

NCNG Service Members and Families’ First Line of Defense Call 1-855-322-3848

East Flat Rock Unit Family Contact Center 2025 Spartanburg Hwy. 28726 Rebekah Torres: rebekah.s.torres.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-0565 Military OneSource Here to help you with just about any need, by phone or online. The service is completely private and confidential with few exceptions. www.militaryonesource.mil 1-800-342-9647

Greensboro State Family Assistance Center 110 Franklin Blvd. 27401 Lynn Stenson: deborah.t.stenson2.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-5649 Greenville State Family Assistance Center 1401 N. Memorial Dr. 27834 David Kovach: david.p.kovach2.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-1150 Lenoir State Family Assistance Center 1535 Beecher Anderson Rd. 28645 Frances Johnson: frances.r.johnson28.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-1242 Morrisville Unit Family Contact Center 2050 National Guard Dr. Mark Woolbright: mark.l.woolbright.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-6377 Raleigh Unit Family Contact Center 1636 Gold Star Dr. 27607 Wendi Bell: wendi.h.bell.ctr@mail.mil (984) 664-6078 Lisa Faison: lisa.m.faison.ctr@mail.mil (984) 664-7100 Smithfield Unit Family Contact Center 406 Hospital Rd. 27577 Abby Millsap: abigail.e.millsap.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-2784

Family Readiness Support Services Charlotte Nikkie Newsome genesia.k.newsome.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-4548

Morrisville George Lane george.w.lane2.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-6313

Clinton Jacqueline Connell (984) 661-5136

Raleigh Norman Dean norman.g.dean2.ctr@mail.mil (984) 664-6537

Goldsboro Gerald Murray gerald.t.murray.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-5423

FRSS Trainer Gloria Fields gloria.d.fields.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-5620

Greensboro Vacant 984-661-5651

Southern Pines Unit Family Contact Center 510 Morganton Rd. 28387 Earlene Buchan edna.e.buchan.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-2683 Wilmington Unit Family Contact Center 2412 Infantry Rd. 28405 Jim Marley: james.e.marley.ctr@mail.mil (984) 661-6918 Winston-Salem Unit Family Contact Center 2000 Silas Creek Pkwy. 27103 Sandy Harrison: sandra.b.harrison2.ctr@mail.mil (984)-661-7131

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