‘Sesame Street’ helps military families cope with relocation
While Elmo, Katie and Cookie Monster prepared for their Las Vegas debut Tuesday at Nellis Air Force Base, USO representatives handed out whirlygigs, red-white-and-blue bandanas and “Sesame Street” buttons to preschool children as they entered a gymnasium in the base’s housing complex.
The show was about to start, and Katie, the new kid on the “Sesame Street” stage, was about to deliver in song and dance a lesson for youngsters whose parents move often for their military careers.
“I heard some really bad news. I won’t be living around here anymore,” sighs Katie, a costumed girl with lavender skin and orange hair.
Then, with the eyes of kids and parents glued to the stage, the life-size characters sing, “Next time we talk, I’ll be calling you.”
With assurance from Elmo and company that she will never be forgotten “no matter how far apart you may be,” Katie replies: “I still don’t want to move. It makes me blue.”
“You’re not blue. We blue,” Cookie Monster and Rover chime in. “Put on your dancing shoes and dance away the blues.”
The rhythmic rendition brought smiles to all as the characters showed Katie how “new kids” can make friends. “I’m gonna keep my head high, and I’ll keep getting stronger.”
F-15 Eagle weapons system officer Capt. Justin Davis applauded the show, holding his son, Noah, in his arms.
“It’s an important message,” he said. “It’s never too early for them to talk about their feelings. They can share their feelings even if they’re scared.”
Even local USO Center Director Doug Bradford was impressed.
“I was dancing and singing with Elmo,” he said. “We have so many military men and women going through this experience with their children. They learn it’s OK. They’ll make new friends wherever they go.”
The crews from “Sesame Street” and United Services Organizations Inc. teamed up for 140 shows last year across the United States and at bases in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, according to tour producer Lonnie Cooper.
Their next stop: Nellis Air Force Base again today for families of airmen only.
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.
