Team Edwards promotes reading with Read Across America

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  About 100 Airmen from across Edwards will visit three Antelope Valley schools and read to children as part of Read Across America Day on February 27 and March 2.

Read Across America is recognized each year on the first Monday in March to commemorate the birthday of author Theodore Geisel, better known by his pen name, Dr. Seuss. This event is also an opportunity for servicemembers to interact with children and instill in them the importance of reading.

This year Read Across America's theme is "Building a Nation of Readers"

"It is important to get children reading early," said Master Sgt. John Price, 95th Communication Squadron Superintendent and Additional Duty First Sergeant. "The earlier they start the, the more likely they are to continue reading as they get older."

Sergeant Price said the focus is for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult which is key to getting children to continue reading and to find books they enjoy reading.

"No child is going to choose to do something they don't enjoy," he said. "So when we come out here and share our favorite books with them we're hoping to inspire them to find books about things they would like to read and that will get them more interested in reading."


After reading, the servicemembers will have an opportunity to answer questions about what they do in the military. For schools that participate that aren't on base, this allows them to get a better understanding of military life and for children who live on base it lets them ask questions about their parents careers that they may be unsure about.

"My favorite part of Read Across America is the question and answer time at the end," said Sergeant Price. "It gives them a chance to understand what we do and it clears up the preconceived notion that most children have about military life and what it is we really do. It's a great opportunity for them and I wish programs like this were around for me when I was younger."