Camp aids kids of military overseas

Camp aids kids of military overseas
By Rich Barlow
August 23, 2008

Chaplain Kip Averett of the Rhode Island Air National Guard had a busy ministry last week. During five days at Operation Purple camp in West Kingston, where children of military personnel deployed far from home try to forget, for a moment, their worries about absent mothers or fathers, Averett prayed with some children each night at lights-out.

"Our state's highly Catholic," said Averett, a Pentecostal minister, in a phone interview, "and we had several children [whose] parents would normally say their prayers with them. They couldn't sleep without them." During the day, he met with some children who wanted to talk out their fears for their parents' safety.

Operation Purple Camp, a program of weeklong summer camps in 36 states this year (Massachusetts ran one last month and one in June), has been sponsored since 2004 by the National Military Families Association, a volunteer group based in Virginia.

At another Operation Purple Camp in Allenstown, N.H., last week, Chaplain Wayne Santos, a Baptist minister in the state's Army National Guard, served his prince of peace in Army fatigues, his reverend's status indicated by a tiny black cross on his shirt and a silver one on his beret.

He traveled the aptly named Podunk Road, which winds under tree canopies and past boulders to the remote 4-H camp in southern New Hampshire, where the Operation Purple Camp was held.

Santos's mission was simply to be available to the more than 100 children, ages 7 to 18.

"It's my professional responsibility as a chaplain for pastoral care," said Santos. "A lot of our work is just being present. You don't have to say anything. Just show that you're there and you care."
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