Sesame Street stops to help military families

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Rebecca Ennis
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Some of America's most beloved characters came alive at Mountain Home Air Force Base July 8 and 9, 2014, when Sesame Street and the United Service Organization made a stop here to help with issues military families frequently face.

During the three performances in the two-day visit, Cookie Monster, Elmo and others helped the feature character, Katie - a military child whose family is moving to a new base prepare for the transition.

For Anja Young, the dancer who plays Katie, the experience was more like coming home instead of preparing to leave. As a second-grader, Young moved to Mountain Home AFB when her father was stationed here.

"I've heard a lot of military kids can't go back home because when they do so much has changed and friends who they are looking for are not there anymore," said Young, who was able to visit with friends from childhood during her short stay in Idaho. "But, I've always called this one of my homes."

Young reminisced about attending elementary school on base and writing that she wanted to be a professional dancer when she grows up. Now she uses her love of dance to help other military children, who face similar experiences she had, such as moving in the middle of the school year or having her dad deployed for months at a time.

"My personal goal with this tour is to let kids - military kids - know the challenges they face only make them better, and they don't have to feel alone because there are a lot of us," said Young.

On the set of Sesame Street, Katie found out she has to move and her friends help comfort her, as well as offer suggestions such as a letter, e-mails and phone calls on how they can stay in touch. The songs and dances throughout the performance focus on change and how it can be good.

"I know first-hand what the character is going through and what she is talking about, so I'm always dancing from my heart," Young said.

Katie and the many other Sesame Street characters had attendees dancing with lots of emotion as well. Children joined in the Elmo Slide, and each child received an Elmo light toy as a gift.

Dancing with their new friends was one of the favorite parts of the show for 5-year-old twins, Jonathan and Temperance Eichman. Elmo, Grover and Cookie Monster were all on their list when asked what they liked most.

The Sesame Street friends and the USO will continue to visit military families through October 2014 and will offer more than 200 performances at 69 bases in 32 states during this season.