NOVEMBER 21, 2014, YORKOTWN, Va. (NNS) – Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (WPNSTA Yorktown) took their puppet show on the road, Nov. 20, to schools in Williamsburg, Virginia, and York County to educate children about the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).
This fun and interactive show has been presented at a number of area schools through the coordinated effort of the School Liaison Officer Katrina Patterson and her exceptional relationships with the school counselors and principals.
The puppet show used colorful characters with special needs to demonstrate that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
“We wanted to give the children the awareness that children and adults with disabilities are just like everybody else and they can do whatever people without disabilities can do,” said Patterson, who works at WPNSTA Yorktown.
November is Military Family Appreciation Month and, in accordance with the proclamation by President Barrack Obama, “we recognize every spouse, parent, sibling, child, and loved one who stands with our service members, and we reaffirm our solemn vow to serve these families as well as they serve us.”
The Exceptional Family Member Program is a part of that commitment to our service members and their families. EFMP works with military families with special needs to address their unique needs throughout the assignment process and after families have settled into their new installation.
Matthew Whaley Elementary School in Williamsburg, was just one of the schools visited by the EFMP puppet show. EFMP Case Liaisons Lisa Wakeman and Tracey Hall created a puppet show for school-aged children that educated them about different disabilities and acceptance of those who may be different from them. Around 275 students and staff welcomed them and interacted with the puppets. The student body also got involved with signing the closing song, “Five Little Monkeys.”
For more news from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, visit www.navy.mil/local/nwsyorktown/