Members of Ohio Operation: Military Kids, along with select youths and their parents, pose for a picture in Ohio Senate chambers with state Sen. Frank LaRose (center, left), a former Ohio National Guard member, who currently represents Ohio's 27th District in the Akron area. The group was at the Ohio Statehouse April 24, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio, to celebrate the Month of the Military Child and turn the Statehouse "purple" to increase awareness of Ohio's 33,000 military youths. |
Col. Julie Blike (from left), director of Family Readiness and Warrior Support for the Ohio National Guard, Joel Rieck and state Rep. Connie Pillich, of Ohio's 28th District in the Cincinnati area, pose for a photo. Rieck, who was awarded Ohio’s first Operation: Military Kids Youth of the Year award, is the son of Master Sgt. Jeffrey J. Rieck, one of three Ohio National Guard members who died April 4, 2012, in Faryab province, Afghanistan, during an enemy attack involving an improvised explosive device |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (4/30/2013) — Members of Ohio Operation: Military Kids, along with a few select youths and their parents, visited the Ohio Statehouse April 24, 2013, to celebrate April as Month of the Military Child.
Members of the House of Representatives listened while three children of former or current military service members spoke about what it meant to be a part of Operation: Military Kids (OMK), what it’s like to have a military parent deploy and the importance of the Ohio House’s support for the program to succeed. The youth speakers said they hoped to bring more awareness of the needs of Ohio’s nearly 33,000 military youths to the House.
Joel Rieck, who was awarded Ohio’s first OMK Youth of the Year award, is the son of Master Sgt. Jeffrey J. Rieck, one of three Ohio National Guard members who died April 4, 2012, in Faryab province, Afghanistan, during an enemy attack involving an improvised explosive device.
Master Sgt. Rieck worked in the Family Readiness office at Ohio National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Columbus prior to his deployment. Joel had worked several times alongside his father, logging more than 80 volunteer hours at ONG Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events, youth day camps and Family camps. Joel earned the award for exhibiting great resilience while continuing to volunteer with the organization after his father’s death, according to OMK officials.
“I feel very privileged to be the first to receive this award and represent Ohio Military Kids,” Joel said. “It feels good to make my mom proud, and I know my dad would be proud that I was able to honor him in continuing what he loved best.”
State Rep. Connie Pillich, of Ohio’s 28th District in the Cincinnati area, and retired Col. Thomas Moe, director of the Ohio Department of Veteran Services, read proclamations designating April as Month of the Military Child. Toward the end of the program, House members gave a standing ovation, possibly a strong sign of their continued support to Operation: Military Kids. |
