The United Service Organizations is launching a pilot partnership program with the Family Literacy Foundation to help keep deployed military parents and their children connected.

The program allows troops to send video tapes of them read aloud from children’s books.

The mission of United Through Reading, an established program of the Family Literacy Foundation, is that all children will feel the security of caring adult relationships and develop a love of reading through the “reading aloud” experience.

The USO/United Through Reading pilot program begins Nov. 14 at USO centers in Qatar; Kuwait; Camp Casey, Korea; Keflavik, Iceland; Mayport, Fla.; and St. Louis, Mo.

“This is just another way the USO is helping servicemembers stay linked to their families. Whether it is a daughter, son, grandchild, or other child in the servicemember’s life, sharing this experience helps to maintain the emotional closeness that comes from reading a bedtime story,” said USO president and CEO Edward A. Powell. “We are pleased to launch this program in time for the holiday season.”

Military members who visit the pilot USO centers will be invited to be taped reading a children’s book. The USO will supply all recording equipment, books and packaging materials. The USO will mail a copy of the book, along with the digital video disk or videotape and instructions, to families back home.

The parent or caregiver can then record or photograph the child as the child is watching the tape and following along, and send the child’s reaction to the deployed servicemember.

The average age of service members today is 25. Because of the current demands on service men and women -- many single parents -- the challenge of communicating during separations can be daunting.

In addition to the educational benefits of instilling the love of reading in children at a young age, United Through Reading boosts family morale, reinforces parental support for spouses at home, helps to allay children’s fears during the parents’ absences and eases the reunion process once the servicemember returns.

(Courtesy of the United Service Organization)