MCLB Albany celebrates ‘the Month of the Military Child’

For the military kids...

April 14, 2023

Matthew Crumley,

ALBANY, Ga. – As part of child abuse prevention month, members of Albany’s Marine Corps Logistics Base took the time to celebrate the smallest members of the installation.

CBS 44’s Brian Roche tells us about the struggles military children and their parents face.

The Marine Corps Logistics Base here in Albany is taking the time today to celebrate a group for their silent strength. Their own children as they celebrate the month of the military child.

For base commander, Michael Fitzgerald, a former military child himself, he understands the sacrifices the children are making while their parents serve their country.

“We have right around two million children, according to the department of defense, that are either one parent or both parents serve in the military, and showing the support, cause they often get uprooted every couple of years,” said Commander Michael Fitzgerald, MCLB Albany.

For Staff Sergeant Edjunique Mormon, she actually wrote a children’s book about the experience…from her four year old daughter’s point of view.

“If anything our military children are stronger than us, casue they adapt a lot more than us parents… At first i experience mommy guilt being away from my daughter, but seeing her face when i look at the book just makes it 20 times more worth it,” Staff Sgt. Edjunique Mormon.

And, then there’s fellow Staff Sergeant Reginald Hammons, a father of three daughters, including twins…Hammons knows that life for his girls is tough going from base to base.

“These kids definitely go through a little bit of stress not seeing their parents for maybe a short or long period of time. But, it’s good to recognize the kids, and have that leadership and also recognize the kids as well,” said Staff Sgt. Reginald Hammons.

But, Commander Fitzgerald says there is a silver lining for the military children…

And, that’s the bond they share with each other as their families move to different bases.

“They don’t get to pick where or when, but often times, they’ll leave one duty station to another duty station, they’ll lose friends but they’ll regain friends from previous locations,” said Cmdr. Fitzgerald.

And, as Commander Fitzgerald says, those bonds will last a lifetime…

The Marine Corps Logistics Base will continue with child abuse prevention month with events on Tuesday, April 18th.

Brian Roche reporting.