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JOSH BOURQUE: This show is an extension of Sesame Street's
Talk, Listen, and Connect, which is a program for
children to help them cope with their parents or loved
ones being deployed.
WOMAN: It helps them understand it through
something that's no so serious and more
geared towards children.
ELIZABETH STOUT: This show's particularly geared towards
military families and helping them deal with when either
parents departs.
LAURA PERCY: We talk a lot about how to be happy, what
makes you happy, that sort of thing.
And how proud Elmo is that you're
helping out your family.
ELIZABETH STOUT: It can be very stressful on a child to
have a parent go away and then come back.
And they don't necessarily understand that.
So by doing an outreach like this, we can help them have a
little bit better of a transition when mom or dad
comes back.
SOLDIER: Deployment's rough on the family, period.
But it's something that all of us are going to do.
You're not going to get through your career and not
get deployed.
WOMAN: It's a difficult situation
for kids to go through.
They need to know that it's OK to talk about and that other
people are going through it too.
MOTHER: I'm just glad someone has something like this.
WOMAN: It's the first time they've ever done anything
directed solely to kids on military bases.
MOTHER: Something nice that my children could experience that
was something positive.
WOMAN: If nothing else, it's the chance to see a little bit
of magic, because here are these characters that they see
on TV constantly.
And not only did they get to see them, but they didn't have
to drive into a big city.
[CROWD CHEERS]
ZOE: How's everyone doing, everyone?
Hi, boys and girls!
COOKIE MONSTER: [SINGING]
C is for cookie.
That's good enough for me.
For cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C!
SOLDIER: I think it's really great that they're taking the
time to do something like this.
SOLDIER: I think it's awesome.
SOLDIER: It's great because it shows the support for the
soldiers and their families.
ELIZABETH STOUT: When you see a kids face just light up
because you're there, and they run up and they give you a big
hug is the best feeling in the world.
JESSICA MILLER: They're eyes just light up, and it means so
much to us as performers.
ELIZABETH STOUT: People were saying there was not a dry eye
in the entire room.
And we've had that same story repeat
throughout the entire tour.
JOSH BOURQUE: I've seen mothers come to me crying,
saying that this was the first time they've seen their
children happy since their father has left for Iraq.
I saw this father pick up his daughter while listening to
one of the songs and start tearing up.
And it really got me.
I started tearing up too.
But this is what the show is about.
[CROWD CHEERS]
MOTHER: Coming out to support the troops and the family
members who stand back.
Words can't express, thanks USO and Sesame Street for
having this event.