EVELYN HOWELL/HERALD STAFF WRITER

todd wetherington | daily herald Participants in Operation Purple Camp listen to State Sen. Ed Jones, who was on hand to give a motivational talk to help them understand why their parents have to serve in the military. Advertisement

HALIFAX - When parents serve their country in the military, their kids serve, too - that's the message Joe Long wants to send loud and clear.

Long, director of the 4-H Rural Life Center in Halifax, is running Operation Purple, a summer camp for girls and boys whose parents are serving in the military.

The 4-year-old residential program works through Halifax County Cooperative Extension Service and is funded by the National Military Family Association, a non-profit organization headquartered in Alexandria, Va. It is open to kids from 10 to 14 years old.

It focuses on youngsters whose parents are currently deployed or will be sent abroad during the next 18 months.

“We have some children here with parents who are on their second or third deployment,” said Long.

Youngsters from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia spend one week at the center playing basketball, football, swimming and being challenged with an obstacle course.

“Everything we do here is educational,” said Long.

”It is meaningful to do something for the kids,” said Long, adding that he has a staff of 14 to help with the everyday activities.

Earlier this week the youngsters traveled to T.J. Davis Recreation Center for a luau and a movie.

Each day there is someone who represents the military on site to help make the kids comfortable.

There are mental health consultants present at the camp to assist children who may be homesick or who maybe having difficulties dealing with their parents being away.

“I'm impressed by their attentiveness, their manners and demeanor and they ask questions with merit,” said State Sen. Ed Jones, who was on hand Wednesday to give a motivational talk and to welcome questions from the young audience.

“This program focuses on teaching the kids that we all have to do our part and to stay on track and to help them understand why their parents have to go away,” said Jones, who also served in the military four years.

During their stay at the camp, kids go on field trips to Water Country in Williamsburg, as well as Sylvan Heights and Medoc Mountain State Park.

“It's wonderful to see their faces light up,” said Dr. Phyllis Moore-Tolliver, a volunteer for the National Military Family Association.

Moore-Tolliver said that the purpose of the program is to help military families have a better quality of life. “The program is free and it offers a child who has never had an opportunity to go away and participate in camp activities.”

“It's fun to be with other kids who have parents in the military and this is a way we can let out stress,” said 13 year-old Meryn McKinney whose dad serves in the military.

“We share similar experiences because our parents are serving this country,” said McKinney. While she is sad that her dad is away, she is also proud he is serving his country.

The youngsters also draw dining hall posters which will be sent where their parents are stationed and arts and crafts which they take home.

Long said the kids will participate in a corn maze which will teach them communication skills as well as teach them how to work together.