April 26, 2017 -- April is a month which has been set aside to celebrate all children, and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany officials have rolled out the “red carpet” with a variety of activities to celebrate its youngest tenants.
The Month of the Military Child Parade, an Earth Day observance and the latest event, Queen Emeralda Storyteller are just a few of the activities scheduled for the month, which honor and recognize the contributions children, our future leaders, bring to society.
In keeping with the 2017 theme: "Step Up! Speak Up! Reach Out!," Brenda Ray, education specialist, Family Advocacy and Prevention Program, MCLB Albany, commented on the relevance of the day’s event, which brought dozens of youngsters to the Base Theater, April 25.
“As you know, April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month,” Ray said. “We wanted to do something positive and do something special with the children and their parents to celebrate the month.
“We’ve invited our neighbors from International Studies (Elementary Charter School, Albany, Georgia) to join us for the celebration,” she added. “The age group for our students is three-years old to kindergarteners.
“Our professional storyteller is Queen Emeralda,” Ray continued. “She’s coming from Fairyland and she's bringing some of her friends with her to entertain the kids and their families. She's going to put on a show and she's going to do some storytelling so the children can laugh and have fun.”
Ray opened the event by soliciting the help of roughly 90 young voices to call out, in unison, and summon Queen Emeralda to appear on stage from her home in Fairyland.
After several attempts and amid the sounds of howling winds in the background, the Queen finally appeared to her audience; from there, the fun and laughter began.
The children witnessed various magic tricks; several participated as onstage storybook characters and assisted the very animated Queen Emeralda in a number of interactive performances and activities, which drew chants, cheers and applause from attendees.
To view more photos and to learn more about the installation’s “Child Abuse and Neglect” campaign, currently underway, visit MCLB Albany’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Marine-Corps-Logistics-Base-Albany-512695405469372/.