Video by Sandi Moynihan
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Being a military child isn’t easy.
From moving every few years to living far from family and friends, military children face a number of unique challenges when it comes to staying in touch with those they love most.
Jordan Scott, 13, a military child who has been living in Japan for the past three years, knows first-hand just how difficult staying connected with loved ones can sometimes be.
“My family [back home in the states], I really miss them,” Scott said.
“It stinks because, you know, you’re missing out on stuff [over there] and they’re missing out on stuff here too.”
But thanks to the USO’s Read2Connect Program – part of the Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program – Scott can use the tool of reading to stay in touch with his friends and family around the world.
The program provides military children like Scott with an opportunity to record themselves reading a book of their choice aloud to their family or friends. Then, the recording is packed with a handwritten note and mailed to the loved one so they can watch their military child friend or relative read them a story.
“We get to Facetime, video call and stuff but I don’t know if they’ve ever heard me read before,” Scott said.
“I feel like they’re going to really enjoy it.”
- Joseph Andrew Lee contributed to this story.
You can send a message of support and thanks directly to service members via the USO’s Campaign to Connect. Your messages will appear on screens at USO locations around the world.
Every day, America’s service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.
