Military families gathered on March 14, 2024, at the Pacific Views Event Center in Camp Pendleton for a reading celebration designed to enhance literacy and foster community among children of service members. This event, part of the Blue Star Books program, was organized by Blue Star Families in partnership with Disney and featured a special appearance by Second Lady Usha Vance.
Vance, who is married to Vice President J.D. Vance and hails from Rancho Peñasquitos, participated actively in the celebration by reading aloud to children and sharing her personal ties to Camp Pendleton. “My mom is here and my daughter is with her, along with some of our friends from growing up here,” Vance expressed. “I have plenty of classmates that were here at Camp Pendleton as well, so it’s a special honor being here.”
The Second Lady is currently promoting her national literacy initiative, dubbed the “Summer Reading Challenge.” This initiative encourages children to reduce screen time and engage more with reading. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, approximately 40% of fourth graders in the United States are not reading at a basic level, a statistic that Vance and Blue Star Families aim to address.
“Reading is important for all kids, but it’s especially important for military kids,” stated Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “Reading skills enhance coping skills and help them deal with their world.” The event aimed to provide military families with resources and support through various engaging activities, book giveaways, and themed experiences.
For families like that of Rebekah McCoy, a military spouse, the celebration brought joy and connection. “It’s a magical escape for us. Dad’s gone a lot, and I’m by myself with all of them. This gives us the chance to support other families as well,” McCoy said, emphasizing the importance of community in their shared experiences.
Blue Star Families, a nonprofit focused on supporting military and veteran households, regularly organizes events to foster a sense of belonging and normalcy. “When kids have books in the home, they read them over and over again,” Roth-Douquet noted. “It makes them stronger, and everybody really wins.”
For many attending the event, it was more than just an opportunity to receive free books; it was a reminder that they are not alone in their journey. “This is about the power of community,” McCoy added, highlighting the camaraderie among families facing similar challenges.
The reading celebration at Camp Pendleton exemplifies the commitment to enhancing literacy and community support among military families, creating lasting impacts on the children who benefit from these initiatives.
