Sharing a camp experience and helping kids in our community empathize with kids with a parent or guardian deployed abroad

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Hundreds gather for the giant heart formation

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Separated from parents who are defending the nation, the children of military families are also serving America. The separation, fear of losing a parent, and the nagging sense of uncertainty can put a heavy psychological burden on children.

Operation Purple sends children of deployed military to free summer camps. This National Military Family Association program is active in 26 states including Arizona. After learning about the project, Tucson couple Debbie and Bobby Rich have put a local focus on the idea with OperationRedShirt, Kids Supporting Military Kids.

Debbie Rich, COO of Sahauro Girl Scout Council, is coordinating plans for SGSC to extend their camping season to host girls from military families at Whispering Pines Girl Scout Camp on Mt. Lemon.

Girl Scout volunteers and camp staff will facilitate the camping experience for 80 girls ages 7-17.

With the help of the Arizona Daily Star's Sportsmen Fund, SGSC will receive funding ($16,000) for OperationRedShirt Tucson. The Daily Star will also ask the community to provide additional support if necessary. Funding is confirmed, thanks to the generosity of Cole and Jeanne Davis who read the article in the Arizona Daily Star this morning and put a check in the mail this morning.

Bobby Rich, of 94.9MIXfm’s Bobby & Brad Show, added the red shirt theme as a send-off for the campers. Any young person in a red shirt is invited to help form a giant human heart expressing their compassion and empathy for kids of deployed military. The formation will be photographed and posted as a free download on OperationRedShirtTucson.org. “Wear Red on Friday to support the troops” is a national grassroots effort that can be more symbolic and meaningful if done in a large mass.

Eligible campers include girls with a parent or guardian deployed military from Davis/Monthan AFB; Ft. Huachuca; or Army/Air Force National Guard or Reserves, Campers do not have to be members of Girl Scouts.