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Sesame Street characters spend time with servicemembers, families

  • Published
  • By Jennifer McCarthy
  • Fort Dix public affairs
FORT DIX, N.J. --  Sunny days that sweep the clouds away, sweet air, friendly neighbors -- it is no wonder so many people want to know the way to Sesame Street. 

Anyone seeking such an ideal place did not have far to go Oct. 18, when the Sesame Street Experience for Military Families show made its way to Timmerman Center at Fort Dix. 

The Sesame Street Experience for Military Families is a free show produced by Sesame Workshop, in conjunction with the United Services Organization and Vincent E. Egan Corporation. It is part of Sesame Workshop's Talk, Listen, Connect initiative. 

The Talk, Listen, Connect initiative was launched in 2006. This initiative provides support and offers significant resources for military families with young children experiencing the effects of deployment, multiple deployments or when a parent returns home changed due to a combat-related injury. 

This show features some of the most popular Muppet stars in the pre-school entertainment firmament, singing, dancing, giggling and hugging their way into the hearts of kids and parents alike. 

Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Zoe, and Rosalita shared through music and movement, some of the feelings kids may have when a parent is deployed. 

Lynn Chawatsky, Sesame Workshop senior project director, oversees this military-outreach program. 

"This is our way of giving a break to the everyday struggles the military family faces. In a military family, if one member is deployed, the entire family is deployed. It's a little way to give back. We love these families," she said. 

Information about the Talk, Listen, Connect initiative were available at the show, including copies of the Talk, Listen, Connect DVD, that inspired the stage show. This DVD helps pave the way for families to discuss deployment issues facing young children. 

"They have the tools to be able to have dialogues about these issues," Ms. Chawatsky said. 

These same tools are also available through Military One Source, www.militaryonesource.com, and the Talk, Listen, Connect video is available to download through Sesame Workshop at http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/. 
 
A pre-show picnic was held at John Mann Park prior to the show. The party was sponsored by the Fort Dix Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation. The outdoor extravaganza featured games, prizes, face painting, giant inflatables to bounce in and slide down, mini-golf, go-carts, batting cages, face painting, playing, free lunch and the chance to mix and mingle with Sesame Street characters. 

"My husband is serving his second tour in Iraq," said Gayle McElroy, while her son Brian navigated the frog hole at the mini-golf course. "This is something nice for him (Brian) to do." 

The fun even continued after the show, when FMWR presented all the children with stuffed Sesame Street toys.