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<\/p>\n\u201cI have lived in a lot of different states, so I\u2019ve experienced more,\u201d Corporate Landing Middle School (CLMS) eighth-grader Chyanne Weber told First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe and other invited guests.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve lived in Georgia, Florida, California, Texas, Michigan, Oregon, Montana,\u201d continued Weber. \u201cI can\u2019t remember all the others.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I just tell the Governor that you like Virginia best?\u201d asked McAuliffe smiling and prompting laughter in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the longest I\u2019ve lived somewhere,\u201d added Weber of her three-year residence in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
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McAuliffe and military officials visited CLMS to speak with students who serve as Junior Student 2 Student (JS2S) ambassadors. JS2S is a program initiated by the Military Child Education Coalition to help schools create positive environments for military-connected children when they transition or depart to a new school.<\/p>\n
McAuliffe acknowledged the difficulties associated with such moves.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of you transfer within Virginia and some of you come from out-of-state or move to another state, and we recognize that those transitions really are a challenge,\u201d McAuliffe told students. \u201cLike the captain said, when you are happy, achieving and successful in school, then you are supporting not only your parents who are serving, but you are supporting the rest of our country. We recognize the unique sacrifices you all make when your parents are active duty military.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sacrifice,\u00a0family\u00a0and honor are themes of student artwork featured in The Art of the Military Child exhibit at Lynnhaven Mall, the next stop for McAuliffe on her April 6 visit to Virginia Beach.<\/p>\n
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McAuliffe spoke at the exhibit\u2019s opening reception in the mall\u2019s center court along with VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence and Captain Frank Hughlett, commander of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. The exhibit is the culmination of a contest open to all VBCPS students to which more than 560 art entries were submitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight showcases not just your talents, but also your unique experiences being children of the military,\u201d said Spence. \u201cYour work depicts deployments and homecomings, sorrow and joy, but above all reflects a sense of pride. Your pride in the service of loved ones, the personal pride of being in a military family and finally, the pride our community has in you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFreedom isn\u2019t free,\u201d Hughlett told the crowd. \u201cAnd no one pays a higher price than our men and women in uniform. Their children serve right alongside them. Think about this. If you were a freshman or sophomore in high school today and your father or mother is in the military, this nation has been at war your entire life. So on top of the moves, there\u2019s that potential stress of going into a war zone and doing what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cThat\u2019s what makes art so important because art provides a window to the heart of these young folks,\u201d Hughlett continued. \u201cI encourage the parents to find your child\u2019s artwork and talk about it with them. As a military father, and my kids are a little older now, but I look at this artwork and it hits me straight in the heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melina Drosinos, fourth-grader at Kemps Landing\/Old Donation School, said her artwork honors her dad, his bravery and his service to our country.<\/p>\n
In her artist statement Drosinos wrote, \u201cI know that it is hard for him to leave my mom and I, but he is keeping this country safe by serving this country and keeping people safe. He is my hero and makes me proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Jordan Hentrich,\u00a0who is not a military dependent herself, created an illustration for her best friend Anne Sophie\u00a0who had to move to Texas as a result of her father\u2019s military orders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did everything together,\u201d wrote Hentrich in her artist statement. \u201cI loved being in her class. But when I found out she was moving to Texas, I didn\u2019t know what to say. On the last day of school, we had a giant group hug. I think I cried the most.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hentrich said she and Anne Sophie continue to keep in touch through texting.<\/p>\n
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Virginia Beach Middle School seventh-grader Morgan Ellis honored her mother\u2019s service in the Navy with her artwork.\u00a0The inspiration was a photo of herself at 15 months old wearing her mother\u2019s uniform before a deployment.\u00a0In the background, a map of various states shows where Ellis has lived as a military dependent.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAs a military child, I moved around a couple of times,\u201d wrote Ellis. \u201cIt is hard for all military children to move and say goodbye to their family members. That is why I will participate in this competition for as long as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellis earned a second place award for her submission and was recognized with other award winners during the exhibit reception.<\/p>\n
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