Reading program connects veterans and students

(The Center Square) – Over 1,000 classrooms across the country will be participating in a reading program aimed at connecting service members and students.

United Through Reading is hosting the 3rd annual “Story Time with a Service Member” event beginning on Veterans Day, and continuing all week. The organization sends a Veterans Day video package to participating schools with a library of video recordings of service members reading an educational age-appropriate story to participating classrooms across the country.

“We’ve recruited service members and veterans from across the branches and the list is broken down by age groups so that the teachers and also home school families will be able to choose a story that is most age appropriate for their classroom,” said United Through Reading Director of Communications Melanie Sheridan, who is a military spouse and mother. 

She adds that the program aims to give students the ability to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the men and women who serve in the military.

United Through Reading Story Stations are available around the world for active duty, National Guard, reserves, and veterans, including at the Illinois Air National Guard base in Peoria. Since 1989, the group says more than 3.4 million military family members have benefited from United Through Reading’s programs and services.

Some of the Illinois school districts taking part this week include in Algonquin, Cary, Libertyville and Skokie. 

“Connecting with a true veteran or soldier was so much more authentic than me reading the same story to the class,” said elementary school teacher B. Stefancin. “It led to great discussion and appreciation for our armed forces and veterans.”