Sesame Street, USO team up for military families

An announcer of the Sesame Street and USO Experience tour welcomes attendees to one of four shows during a two-day period at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 28, 2014. The show was designed to shine a light on the difficult situations a military child may face while allowing parents the opportunity to address stressful situations that may arise while serving in the armed forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas/Released)

Sesame Street, USO team up for military families

Katie, a Sesame Street military child actress, reaches out to children during a two-day period at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 28, 2014. The show was designed to shine a light on difficult situations a military child may face while allowing parents the opportunity to address stressful situations that may arise while serving in the armed forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas/Released)

Sesame Street, USO team up for military families

The Cookie Monster, Katie, a Sesame Street military child actress, and Grover perform for military and family members at the Sesame Street and USO Experience tour welcomes attendees to one of four shows during a two-day period at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 28, 2014. The show was designed to shine a light on difficult situations a military child may face while allowing parents the opportunity to address stressful situations that may arise while serving in the armed forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas/Released)

Sesame Street, USO team up for military families

Published June 3, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Crowds of military and family members came to see the Sesame Street and USO Experience May 27 and 28, 2014, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Each day here, two shows were held to accommodate working service members and school-aged children with a performance designed to shine a light on the difficult situations a military child may face while a parent serves in the armed forces.

"The show was awesome, music was really good and the time of the show worked out perfectly for my son and I," said Army 1st Lt. Ty Springer, 50th Brigade, Special Troop Battalion. "Having the event here allowed us to spend time together and we were able to bond."

While the two-day show here allowed Department of Defense identification card holders to enjoy a special performance, it is only one of 69 military installations the tour will visit.

"Here at the joint base, we have a strong relationship and partnership with the USO and Sesame Street," said Stephen Pivin, 87th Force Support Squadron. "Our partnership has gone on for years now and I believe the show has been going on for the past six years."

Pivin noted how the show is the USO's longest running and traveling tour based on Sesame Street's award-winning Military Families Initiative.

"Seeing all the little smiling children as they laugh, sing and dance is a very rewarding feeling at the end of each show," he said. "Even though it is a time to have fun, it brings sense of belonging and collaboration amongst all military families since the show is based on tough military transitions when children have to move due to a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) and build new friendships."

Pivin explained during the show, Elmo and his Sesame Street friends help Katie, a military child, work through challenges that come along with the changes and transition of moving to a new place.

"I think this show is a great thing for military children and their families," Springer said. "The theme of the show bridges a gap between the show and the military lifestyle. They use situations common to what a military family would go through and make it easy for children to relate too."