Monday's Internet Edition, October 13, 2008.
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| Guy N. Orr, Boys’ and Girls’ Club executive director, interacts with children at the club. He has recently announced services that the club will offer to the families of deployed soldiers to show its support of military personnel. – Photo by KRISTAN HALL |
News editor - With the current war with Iraq ongoing, Copperas Cove residents have found new ways to show their patriotism. Many citizens express their support for soldiers and their families, but our soldiers deserve more than just verbal support. The Leader-Press has sought out those in Cove who support our soldiers with actions and not just words.
The first to be spotlighted with this new Leader-Press feature is Guy N. Orr, executive director of the Coryell County Boys’ and Girls’ Club, who wrote the following letter to Joyce Hauk, Leader-Press associate publisher.
“First, our appreciation to you and the Leader Press staff for your service to the Boys and Girls Club of Coryell County. Our unique city newspaper is an essential voice in the service and success of our mission. Again, I request that the following be published in your newspaper as soon as possible.
A longtime supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Secretary of State Colin Powell has called on the club to support the children of deployed military personnel. The Boys & Girls Club of Coryell County has answered the call.
To respond to the Secretary’s urgent request, your Boys & Girls Club welcomes all children, ages six to 18, who are members of families in which a parent or guardian has, or will be deployed, at no membership cost. The club is open from 3 to 7 p.m. school days, and will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this summer. A special “Early Bird” program will be available again this summer for those parents needing to get children to the club early because of work requirements. This special service will be offered with a beginning time of 7 a.m. Monday through Friday.
During “Operation Desert Storm,” in 1991, the Boys & Girls Club partnership with the U.S. Military was greatly strengthened with local clubs providing memberships and special programming to over 17,000 children of deployed active duty military, reservists and National Guard members. Since then, the Boys and Girls Club of America has formed lasting partnerships with our special brand of youth activities on more than 350 military bases worldwide, serving over 400,000 young people. Secretary Powell rightly points out that clubs have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to serve all youth, particularly those from military families at this critical time.
He believes, as we do, that club programs allow young people to overcome the fiercest obstacles; to not only grow and learn from challenge but to join in service to their communities. That is why Secretary Powell, and we here at the Boys & Girls Club urge all of us to reach out to children of deployed military and civilian personnel.
The Boys and Girls Club of Coryell County has been serving the youth of this county for four years. During the past year, there has been a sizeable increase in both membership and programs available. We confidently expect to continue this success and, in the near future, realize the groundbreaking for a new Boys and Girls Club building.
America has joined once again in spirit. Let us all now join hands in service to our future....our youth.”
Additionally, the club will offer e-mail accounts so military families can contact their loved ones overseas, begin Cookies for Soldiers and Yellow Ribbon programs and offer other services.
For more information, call the club at 547-5578.