MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Two Japanese taiko drummers visited the children of Matthew C. Perry Elementary School here April 8 in honor of the Month of the Military Child.
“(The performance) was very relaxing. It made me think of cherry blossoms,” said Geraldine Baldelomar, fifth grader at M.C. Perry Elementary School. “It put a nice picture in my head.”
The event took place in the M.C. Perry Elementary School gymnasium, where children of all grades, parents, teachers, principals and even the district and Pacific area superintendents attended the performance.
“The performance was marvelous. They were very engaging and really showed the kids about the Japanese culture,” said Dr. Joyce Lutrey, Pacific area superintendent for curriculum instruction and assessment.
Lutrey said April is the Month of the Military Child, during which military children are honored for some of the difficulties they face having military parents.
“We have the Month of the Military Child because children serve too. They move frequently, they grow up in different countries, and they are a precious commodity who we in the school are able to take care of.”
Due to the constant relocation in the military lifestyle, the biggest obstacle military children face is having to constantly adapt to new environments.
“Military kids are resilient. They’re adaptable, and they take real good care of each other,” said Tricia Cassidy, M.C. Perry Elementary School assistant principal. “I think because they move so much, they’re real easy to welcome each other in.”
Lutrey said events like these are a way to give back to the children and let them know how important they are.
“We invited the taiko drummers as a gift to the 505 military children in the school,” said Cassidy.
The taiko drummers weren’t the only ones putting on a performance in the gym. Many of the children were moving around and playing air drums to the beat of the Japanese music.
“The children were very involved in the performance,” said Lutrey.
“I always enjoy coming to schools,” said Clayton J. Fujie, district superintendent. “I saw the taiko drummers, and the students reacted in the audience as if they had their own taiko drums in front of them.”
Cassidy said the taiko drummers are just one of several events planned to celebrate the Month of the Military Child. At the end of April, the school will host a movie event open to all students and parents.
The event will include an outdoor movie, a barbeque and basket auction.
For more information on upcoming events for the Month of the Military Child, contact the school registrar at 253-5449.