Focus turns to keiki during the month of April at base

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- The 15th Airlift Wing command staff is joined by representatives of the Hickam Community Action Team, Hickam Key Stone Club, Junior/Brownie Troop 214, Hickam Air Force Base Family Advocacy, SARC and others to kick off a special month. (Photo by Chris Aguinaldo)

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Focus turns to keiki during the month of April at base

Published April 9, 2009
By Chris Aguinaldo, Editor
Hickam Kukini

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- More than two dozen members of the Hickam AFB community -- a lot of them children -- gathered earlier this week to mark the beginning of a very special month.

"There's a lot of people here," observed 15th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Giovanni Tuck, as he entered the Wing Conference Room to sign a document proclaiming April the Month of the Military Child, Alcohol Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

"These four programs are touchstone programs of this Wing," said Col. Tuck. "It's very important and vital to get the message out."

Which is why the group -- made up of representatives of the Hickam Community Action Team, Hickam Key Stone Club, Junior/Brownie Troop 214, Hickam Air Force Base Family Advocacy, SARC and other concerned citizens -- was there, to help raise awareness of these causes.

"As a teen, I should be aware of the problems of the world and be part of the solution," said Stephen Lawrence, 15, of the Key Stone Club, who attended the ceremony.

In addition to addressing problems, it's a time to recognize the important sacrifices children make for the military family, especially in times of deployment. The Month of the Military Child was first observed in 1986.