{"id":13555,"date":"2025-04-09T15:14:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T19:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=13555"},"modified":"2025-04-09T15:14:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T19:14:52","slug":"military-families-saluted-through-art-at-lynnhaven-mall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/military-families-saluted-through-art-at-lynnhaven-mall\/","title":{"rendered":"Military families saluted through art at Lynnhaven Mall"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Kellam High sophomore Lucia Lopresti drew a picture of the Navy ship her father was deployed on when she was born. The drawing is on display at the \u201cArt of the Military Child\u201d art exhibit at Lynnhaven Mall through April 23. Her entry won an honorable mention in the exhibit\u2019s high school category.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>By Cindy Butler Focke<\/a><\/p>\n

The 13th<\/sup> annual \u201cArt of Being a Military Child\u201d art exhibit officially opened and will be at Lynnhaven Mall for April, the \u201cMonth of the Military Child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Approximately 550 pieces of artwork by students are featured in the exhibit presented by VBCPS in partnership with the mall, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and Naval Air Station Oceana-Dam Neck.<\/p>\n

Lucia Lopresti drew a picture of the USS San Antonio, which has special meaning to the Kellam High School sophomore.<\/p>\n

She was born while her father was deployed on the Navy ship and didn\u2019t meet him until she was 6 months old.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided to draw that ship in honor of what my dad had to miss as a result of his service,\u201d Lucia wrote in her artist\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

Throughout his more than 20 years in the Navy, Lucia said her father \u2013 like so many who serve their country – sacrificed a lot, including missing out on special family occasions, such as birthdays and holidays.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kempsville Meadows third grader Talia McKnight and family attended the \u201cArt of the Military Child\u201d opening celebration at Lynnhaven Mall. Her artwork features a military airplane with an American flag in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Talia McKnight painted a picture of a military airplane flying in the clouds with an American flag as a backdrop.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see these planes fly above my school,\u201d the Kempsville Meadows third grader said.<\/p>\n

She proudly stated that her grandfather served in the Army.<\/p>\n

Paula Pacheco\u2019s patriotic artwork was a salute to all Americans who served their country, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany people died and risked their lives,\u201d said the Indian Lakes Elementary third grader.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Katie Tereshko\u2019s drawing is on display at the \u201cArt of the Military Child\u201d art exhibit at Lynnhaven Mall through April. Her sister, Caroline, left, attended the opening ceremony with the Red Mill Elementary fourth grader.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Red Mill Elementary fourth grader Katie Tereshko\u2019s father is in the Navy.<\/p>\n

She drew herself and her father in uniform holding hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe goes away sometimes, and this is us reconnecting after,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Point \u2018O View Elementary art teacher JoAnn Baxter has a Professional Studies Graduate Certificate from Old Dominion University to help educators who teach military connected children.<\/p>\n

Allowing children of military families to express their thoughts and talents in the art show helps them feel connected in the community, Baxter said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps them feel accepted and not seem different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many wore purple to the exhibit\u2019s April 2 opening reception. The color symbolizes all branches of the military: a combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue.<\/p>\n

The Independence Middle School band played patriotic music and VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. welcomed guests.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an important opportunity to honor the joys and challenges our military families face each day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Robertson praised teachers and school counselors for making sure the military-connected students have the support needed to succeed in school. \u201cMilitary families are the backbone of our Armed Forces.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that more than 12,000 VBCPS students have a connection to an active-duty service member.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
An entry by White Oaks Elementary student Charlotte C.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Installation Commander, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Navy Capt. David Gray said children whose parents are in the military face many challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey attend as many as nine schools and move three times as much as their civilian counterparts,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

He praised their \u201cstrength, character and resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

First Colonial High alum Tom Crabbs, military liaison secretary of veterans and defense affairs, grew up in a military family.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Indian Lakes Elementary third grader Paula Pacheco\u2019s patriotic artwork is on display.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He addressed the artists.<\/p>\n

Children in military families also serve their country by supporting their loved ones, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an artist you display the core values of honor courage and commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cox High School sophomore Natalie Lasia, a finalist in the Boys and Girls Club\u2019s Military Youth of the Year, read the poem \u201cThe Dandelion \u2013 the Flower of a Military Child. \u201c<\/p>\n

The poem by an unknown author compares children in military families to the flower and describes them as \u201chardy and upright\u201d and \u201cready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

2025 \u201cThe Art of Being a Military Child\u201d winners:<\/h2>\n

Elementary School Level (Grades K-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Place: Zarina Gonzalez, Parkway Elementary<\/p>\n

Second Place: Rosemarie Tiley, Luxford Elementary<\/p>\n

Third Place: Jordan Andoscia, Strawbridge Elementary<\/p>\n

Honorable Mention: Garrett Williams, New Castle Elementary<\/p>\n

Elementary School Level (Grades 3-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Place: Abigail Wilson, Strawbridge<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ada C.\u2019s acrylic painting of a girl and a dandelion won top honors in the \u201cArt of the Military Child\u201d exhibit\u2019s middle school category. Like the flower, children in military families \u201chave the ability to grow and thrive anywhere,\u201d the Virginia Beach Middle School student said in her artist statement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Second Place: Kealana Smith, Fairfield Elementary<\/p>\n

Third Place: Sophia Goddard, Alanton Elementary<\/p>\n

Honorable Mention: Logan Cittadino, Centerville Elementary<\/p>\n

Middle School Level<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Place: Ada Colton, Virginia Beach Middle<\/p>\n

Second Place: Lauren Mears, Virginia Beach Middle<\/p>\n

Third Place: Autumn Wang, Independence Middle<\/p>\n

Honorable Mention: Kezelohani Menor, Landstown Middle<\/p>\n

High School Level<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Place: Serenity Lynch, Landstown High School<\/p>\n

Second Place: Lillian Yoder, Bayside High School<\/p>\n

Third Place: Charlie Ballard, Kellam High School<\/p>\n

Honorable Mention: Lucia Lopresti, Kellam High School<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Winners in the \u201cArt of the Military Child\u201d exhibit were recognized on stage during the exhibit\u2019s opening ceremony at Lynnhaven Mall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Cindy Butler Focke The 13th annual \u201cArt of Being a Military Child\u201d art exhibit officially opened and will be at Lynnhaven Mall for April, the \u201cMonth of the Military […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":13563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13555"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13582,"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13555\/revisions\/13582"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}