Guam Military Children Entertained, Informed by Sesame Street Characters

By Airman 1st Class Whitney Tucker, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Public Affairs

GUAM (NNS) -- Sesame Street television show characters visited Andersen Air Force Base and U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) June 9-10, to perform for military members and their families.

The USO teamed with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that produces Sesame Street, to bring the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families to the Asia-Pacific region.

"It's a fantastic partnership," said Lonnie Cooper, USO tour manager. "It's a natural thing. Sesame Street has an instant credibility with children and their families and the USO has credibility with the military. When you put those two things together for this kind of program for military families, it is just unprecedented and it's been a real success for us."

Audiences at the shows were introduced to a new character, Katie, a military child relocating to a new home. With the support of Elmo and other Sesame Street "celebrity" friends, Katie is able to open up about her apprehension and excitement as she deals with the challenges of adjusting to a new environment and making new friends.

The new show also features a 25-minute, high-energy character performance with special giveaways and vital outreach materials for those who attend.

"It's a way for military children to learn how to cope with issues that affect them," Cooper said. "Who better to discuss it with, than characters they have come to trust like Elmo, Cookie Monster or Rosita?"

Staff Sgt. Whitney Rogers, 36th Force Support Squadron, said Sesame Street characters help children feel empowered and they encourage children to be themselves.

"This show is good for military kids because it lets them know they're not alone," she said. "In this lifestyle, kids move around a lot. They're going to make friends and lose friends, but this show teaches them that you never have to forget the people you meet and to remember that new friends are just around the corner."

Navy spouse Dot Ramirez said the show hit close to home for her family.

"We loved the show," she said. "In 11 weeks we're leaving, so [my daughter] can totally relate. We're starting to pack up and head to a new duty station."

For Master-at-Arms 1st Class (SW) Jermaine Glover, of NBG Security, the thrill of the show was being able to share a piece of his childhood with his sons.

"Last year it was a ball, so I made sure I had to come out a second time," Glover said. "[For our kids] to see what we saw back in the day, which was Sesame Street, and for them to see it and experience it was amazing."

Since its inception four years ago, The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families has logged more than 61,200 miles to 90 bases in 33 different states and nine countries. This summer alone the tour will perform more than 120 shows, touching the lives of countless children and military members alike.

"We know family is the core of getting not only our service members through their hardship, but keeping every family unit together," said Leigh Leilani Graham, USO Guam director. "I think it helps the parents just as much as it does the children."