It isn’t easy being the spouse, child, parent or sibling of a soldier on active duty, especially during times of war. That’s why the Operation Military Kids Club hosted an appreciation night Friday at Oxford Middle School for local military families.
‘The purpose is to bring together military families from Oxford and Lake Orion,? said club sponsor Jennifer Bennett, a sixth-grade teacher at OMS. ‘We’re out here and we have a hard time finding each other.?
The event featured games, activities, computers, food and special ‘hero backpacks? for the children and siblings of servicemen and women.
‘The backpacks are given to the kids to say thanks ? thanks for being brave, thanks for sticking it out,? Bennett said.
Eight families representing the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces attended the event.
‘The adults talked and exchanged information. The kids ran around and played,? Bennett said. ‘It was everything I had hoped it would be.?
Bennett is the wife of Staff Sgt. Richard Bennett, who’s been on active duty since 2001 as part of the 127th Air National Guard and is currently serving at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Twp.
Events like this are important because they ‘help military families find each other so they can form their own support network in case of deployments.?
‘We understand what we go through,? said Bennett, who’s planning to hold a picnic for local military families this summer.
Anyone interested can reach Bennett at (248) 765-0710 or e-mail bennej01@oxford.k12.mi.us.