2015 Child Pride Day

An Easter parade kicks off the 2015 Child Pride Day, April 4, 2015, at marina park, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. More than 600 children and parents from Keesler attended the event that featured activities, demonstrations and information on programs focused on care of military families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield)

2015 Child Pride Day

Children participate in an Easter egg hunt at the 2015 Child Pride Day, April 4, 2015, at marina park, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. More than 600 children and parents from Keesler attended the event that featured activities, demonstrations and attendees with information on programs focused on care of military families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield)

2015 Child Pride Day

A child gets her face painted at the 2015 Child Pride Day, April 4, 2015, at marina park, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. More than 600 children and parents from Keesler attended the event that featured activities, demonstrations and information on programs focused on care of military families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield)

2015 Child Pride Day

Master Sgt. Leslie Finley, 81st Training Wing Staff Agency first sergeant, and other members of the Keesler First Sergeant Council grill hamburgers and hot dogs at the 2015 Child Pride Day, April 4, 2015, at marina park, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. More than 600 children and parents from Keesler attended the event that featured activities, demonstrations and information on programs focused on care of military families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield)

2015 Child Pride Day

Families take photos with the Easter bunny at the 2015 Child Pride Day, April 4, 2015, at marina park, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. More than 600 children and parents from Keesler attended the event that featured activities, demonstrations and attendees information on programs focused on care of military families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield)

2015 Child Pride Day

Rain or shine, Keesler celebrates military children

Published April 8, 2015
By Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler Air Force Base kicked off Month of the Military Child April 4 by hosting the 19th Annual Child Pride Day at the marina.

Despite the rain, children, parents and volunteers from on and off-base groups came out to enjoy the festivities.

"The initial event was held in 1996," said Jeri Peterson, Keesler Youth Center director and event co-chairman. "The initial concept came from Sandy Brzovic from family support who had participated in a similar program at an overseas base. She approached me about holding a kid-friendly celebration at Keesler. The event was originally held in October, but was moved to April, National Month of the Military Child. It's been going on annually ever since, rain or shine."

At this year's event, children and their families enjoyed everything from Easter egg hunts to hamburgers and hot dogs cooked by the Keesler First Sergeant Council. Base organizations such as the 81st Medical Group's public health office showed children and their parents how to be safe while having fun.

"The event started with a parade and pictures with the Easter bunny," said Peterson. "We also had kiddie games, bouncy houses, fire truck and ambulance displays, a security forces working dog demonstration, family talent showcase, sponsors with kid-friendly activities, boat rides, mascots and more than 25 agencies and sponsors."

The base's Child Pride Day committee started planning the event in January. The committee helped organize donations, recruit more than 120 volunteers and line up demonstrations to promote the health and welfare of Keesler children.

"The children benefit from this event because there are a lot of agencies here that the families might not know about that they can get information from," said committee member Teressa Vieira. "Everything from the child development and youth centers to the Families Over Coming Under Stress program gave these families the information they need."

As members of Team Keesler, Vieira and her family have been participating in Child Pride Day for six years. Throughout the years, Vieira's children have been able to benefit from not only learning the different programs provided to them, but also meeting the people making those programs possible.

"Seeing all of the people from the different support units around base is one of my favorite parts of the event," said Vieira. "Outside of this event, you never get to see them all at once to receive the important information that they have to offer. I also love seeing the families coming out to have fun - and, of course, the kids. When they see all of the cool stuff, their eyes light up and they are happy."

Even though the event started out on a rainy note, Keesler kids were able to enjoy the festivities and experience the full spectrum of being a military child.

"Month of the Military Child and Child Pride Day let the kids know that even though they are children, they are still very important to the Air Force," said Vieira. "Most of our military members have children, and in order to do their jobs, their kids have to be taken care of. If the kids are happy, then mom and dad are happy, too."

"All of these different agencies are here to help make that happen," she continued "If the kids are emotionally and physically happy, then their parents can do their job for the Air Force."