When my father, Odysseus, and his men sailed off to the Trojan War, they were confident their gods favored a quick victory. Instead, the siege of Troy lasted ten years. After Troy fell, the survivors made their way home to Sparta, Mycenae, Pylos, and elsewhere in the ancient Peloponnese. Neither my father nor any of his troops arrived home with the rest. We waited for years as the news grew worse. Odysseus was dead, we were told,or imprisoned, or, worst yet, he had married another woman and abandoned my mother Penelope, my brother Telemachus, and me.


If he is alive somewhere, his thoughts may wander to Penelope and Telemachus, but he won’t be thinking of me. I am the daughter he doesn’t know exists. Odysseus went off to the Trojan War when his son, Telemachus, was barely old enough to walk. His wife, Penelope, was a teenage bride, and is now a young wife, mother, and queen who has to try to rule Ithaca without him.


I was born seven months after he left. I am a hero’s daughter and a princess of his realm, but I have lived my entire life without a father. I’m nineteen now, and still waiting.


All over the world, and throughout history children grow up as I have. This website will focus on the children of those men and women who have gone off to fight America's wars, and provide information and resources for all who care about military families and want to help.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

From Children to Children



The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System’s Volunteer Program recently won two awards from the National Association of Counties (NaCo) for its Children’s Letter Writing Campaign.  The project won the Achievement Award in the Volunteer Category and Best of Category Award. 

 
During the summer of 2009, children visiting the library had the chance to practice their writing skills by composing letters of support to children of deployed military personnel. Children’s librarians incorporated the Children’s Letter Writing Campaign into summer vacation programs by creating a station where paper, pens and crayons were available, along with drop boxes for children to "mail" their letters. A reading list of relevant children’s books was also developed.

Over 200 children wrote letters during the campaign, which gave them a chance to think not just about what other children face but also how important (and fun) volunteering can be.The program supports President Obama’s United We Serve initiative, with its national focus on volunteerism.  
Posted by About AART at 7:16 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)