Kids

Brody Murphy, left, son of Capt. Mark Murphy with the 32nd Flying Training Squadron and Ashley Murphy with the 71st Force Support Squadron, and Payton Snyder, daughter of Staff Sgts. John and Amy Snyder, 71st Medical Group, ride in the military-child parade April 14, at Vance AFB, Okla. Brody and Payton are both in the pre-toddler classroom at the Vance Child Development Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jillian Moore)

Kids

Cody Lambert and his mother, Staff Sgt. Mandy Lambert with the 71st Medical Group, participate in a military-child parade put on April 14 by the Child Development Center at Vance AFB, Okla. Almost 100 children, parents and CDC teachers marched in the parade, held in honor of the Month of the Military Child and the Week of the Young Child. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jillian Moore)

CDC hosts children’s parade to celebrate Month of the Military Child

Published April 14, 2010
By Jessica Gibson
Contributing writer

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The scene in front of the Vance AFB Child Development Center, the morning of April 14, was one of excitement. Dozens of children, parents and CDC teachers and workers prepared to march in the second annual Children's Parade, celebrating the Month of the Military Child.

Established by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, the Month of the Military child emphasizes the role of children in the military community and the support they give to their parents.

The parade also celebrates the Week of the Young Child, which promotes the importance of education for young children, particularly in the first three years of life.

Vance has celebrated in different ways over the years with art events, open houses at the CDC and promotions of parental involvement. Last year, the CDC staff decided to involve the children more by hosting a parade.

In this year's parade, the parents and CDC staff wore patriotic colors to match the wagons, strollers and bicycles boasting American flags and other red, white and blue decorations.

Led by Col. Tim Gibson, 71st Mission Support Group commander, and Roger Miller, CSC Applied Technologies, the parade began in front of the CDC and circled around the block. Passers-by stopped to take pictures of the colorful spectacle and cheer on the kids.

The children smiled and waved back, clearly enjoying themselves and the attention they received.

When the parade made it all the way around the block, one young boy on a bicycle sped up the sidewalk to the front door of the CDC, calling behind him, "Daddy, I won."