Focus Groups Finish Issue Statements
The focus group sessions finished this afternoon, and delegates are anxious to vote on the top Symposium issues tomorrow morning. They spent most of today finalizing the scope of their issue statements and writing them in Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) format.
AW2 spouse Kimmie Davis was selected spokesperson for the Family group, and she is excited to present to leadership tomorrow. “All the statistics don’t matter at this point,” she said. “What matters is fixing the problems.”
“My group made a good partnership,” said AW2 Soldier Jay Wilkerson. “I wanted to be a delegate because I wanted to help level the playing field so all Soldiers have access to the same opportunities.”
AW2 spouse Julie Jones said the Medical II group has narrowed their issues. “We’re just working hard to coordinate it right so the Army takes appropriate action,” she said. “We think it’s such an important issue that affects Soldiers all over the country, and we’re very passionate about it.”
AW2 Advocate Clay Rankin is also an AW2 Soldier who attended Symposium as a delegate last year. “This year was so different, because I spent my time taking care of Soldiers,” he said. “I love taking care of Soldiers whether they’re sick, upset, or just need a few minutes of down time.” Clay and his service dog Archie were among the most popular Symposium participants. “We even joined the Medical I group for a while to talk about the financial issues facing Veterans with service dogs. And everyone loves Archie!” he added.
Operation Purple Camp Presentation
Tonight, AW2 kids and the National Military Family Association (NMFA) treated delegates to a presentation on their Ultimate Urban Adventure. AW2 Sergeant Major SGM Brent Jurgersen told the crowd that “this is the best show in San Antonio tonight! There’s nothing more precious than our kids.”
The kids immediately paraded into the Texas Ballroom with military precision. Their eyes twinkled in a mix of excitement and exhaustion. Several made eye contact with their parents across the room, as AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and spouses focused digital cameras with pride.
“We’ve focused on fun this week,” said Liz Larsen, NMFA Field Coordinator, “but we’ve also tried to instill the idea that kids serve too. Your children are great examples of a military child.”
Many of the Operation Purple Camp activities took place at the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. Camp Director Jason McColl introduced his staff and mentioned that most of them had never worked with military children before. “We fell in love with your kids,” Jason told AW2 delegates. “We had a blast working with them, and serving your children was an honor and privilege.”
Operation Purple Camp incorporated the idea of Army Strong, Family Strong into the week’s activities. Each child gave their parents a written note about what it means to be Family Strong. “Reading these notes makes me proud to be an Army wife,” said Liz, before she anonymously read some of the messages aloud:
- My Family is strong because my dad is strong, and we will never give up.
- My dad is my hero. Even though you got injured fighting for my freedom, you’re still strong.
- I love you because you fought for my independence.
Each age group of campers then presented a cadence they’d written specifically for the week, including a stomp performance by the teenagers. Here’s the breakdown of the group names:
- Screaming Eagles (ages 5-7)
- Army Brats (ages 8-9)
- Delta Force (ages 10-12)
- Nine Strong (ages 13-17)
Liz presented AW2 Director COL Jim Rice and SGM Jurgersen with a purple quilt showcasing pictures of the children and their wounded service member. Then, the crowd laughed and shed a few tears while watching a slide show of the kids engaging in activities at the YMCA, Sea World, and the Alamo.
