SEQUOIA LAKE, Calif. (July 1, 2010) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore Sailors helped their shipmates’ kids better understand the Navy during Operation Purple program’s “Military Day” at YMCA’s Lake Sequoia camp.  Sponsored by the National Military Family Association, Operation Purple is a free, week-long camp designed for children of deployed service members.

“Our military children face hardships not experienced by some of their peers,” noted Chaplain Scott Kroener, NAS Lemoore command chaplain.  “Multiple deployments take a toll on children who not only miss their mom or dad, but may have to take on extra responsibilities at home while a parent is deployed.” 

One young camper, whose dad’s squadron deploys aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), said he has to work more around the house when his dad is deployed.

“Sometimes I feel like I have extra chores when my dad’s gone like I have to take the trash out every night and help with my little brother,” said Ryan Loughran, whose dad, Cmdr. Robert Loughran is the executive officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 151. 

Taking a break from trash duty, Military Day gave campers like Ryan a glimpse at a variety of jobs performed by Sailors every day.   

“By coming up here and showing the kids some of the different jobs the Navy does gives them a better understanding of why the military is so important to the country,” Kroener added. 

From military working dogs and weaponry, to water survival training and emergency management, the kids were able to sit in an inert ejection seat, look through the sights of a rifle and watch a military working dog do its job. 

“The dog was my favorite part because it chased my counselor,” said Loughran whose camp counselor volunteered to be the “criminal” during a military working dog demonstration. 

For one Sailor, a father of two who’s seen his share of deployments, working with the kids is important to him.

“I hope this gives them a morale boost and help keep their spirits up while their parents are away,” said Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Paul Toucedo assigned to NAS Lemoore Security’s range operations. 

According to its website, the goal of the camps is to impart the message to the nation's youngest heroes that “Kids Serve Too.” Camps are open to military children of all ranks and services: active and reserve components. The program helps military kids experience carefree fun while learning coping skills to deal with war-related stress and fostering relationships with other kids in similar situations. 

“The kids are having an amazing time and by engaging with the military folks in a positive way it helps build a bridge and puts a face to the military.  Kids serve too and we’re offering them the opportunity to experience new things without responsibilities.  They just get to play and be kids,” said Evan Gelsi, YMCA’s camping services director of the Sequoia Lake conference. 

More than 100 military kids from throughout the west spent the week at the Sequoia Lake camp, with about 75 percent of them from NAS Lemoore.  The Operation Purple program was created in 2004 to fill a need identified by military parents to “help us help our kids.” Since its inception, nearly 30,000 military children and teens have been served by a program designed to empower them to develop and maintain healthy and connected relationships.  For more information, visit the website:  http://www.operationpurplecampinfo.com