Elmo and Friends Visit Yokota

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Yokota Air Base, Japan --  Sesame Street Workshop, in collaboration with the United Service Organizations, provided entertainment for more than 1,000 children and parents at the Taiyo Community Center here, Jan. 16.

Elmo along with Cookie Monster, Grover, Rosita and Zoe entertained and educated their audience with an awe inspiring presentation of song and dance as part of the program.

Per the USO website, the Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" program is a military outreach initiative, launched in 2006, that provides support and offers resources for military families with young children experiencing the effects of deployment, multiple deployments, and a parent's return home changed due to a combat-related injury.

"The show started with a United States version of the tour. We did 42 bases and thousands of kids and families attended, it was fantastic," said Mr. Lonnie Cooper, USO tour manager.

He also added that the group has toured in the U.S., as well as in Europe and the Pacific.

"I've been touring for 20 years. I've been in the theatre business, I've been with jazz bands and I've toured with all kinds of different entertainers. And there is nothing I've ever done that is quite as fulfilling," said Mr. Cooper.

In recognition of the contributions made by the United States Armed Forces, the Sesame Workshop created the "Talk, Listen, Connect" bilingual educational outreach initiative designed for military families and their young children.

"When you see them the children understand what Elmo is talking about, when he talks about missing his mommy or his daddy, and when you see how much it means to those kids, it is unlike anything I've ever done before in my entire life, it's really an extraordinary experience to be a part of," said Mr. Cooper.

Military families in attendance received outreach program materials and a spinning Elmo toy.

For more information on the outreach program visit http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc