During this time of war, many military families measure the length of their loved one's deployment in missed milestones. As they protect this country, American troops are missing many special moments with their families -- birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and at this time of year, the first day of school.

But the Camp Lejeune Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) is making the start of this school year a little easier for military families. On Saturday, August 12, ASYMCA sponsored its second Back to School Block Party for children of junior enlisted personnel (active duty E1-E6). The event featured games, music, crafts and food, but Camp Lejeune families waited in line for hours in inclement weather so their children could receive one of 500 backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies.

“The first day of school can be scary for children, and especially so for those wrestling with the confusing emotions that come with a parent's deployment,” said Angela Rodriguez, executive director of Camp Lejeune ASYMCA. “We can't bring their parent back to walk them to the bus stop on the first day of school, but we can let them know that they're not alone.”

Purchasing everything a child needs to start a new year at school can be quite costly and can place a considerable strain on family finances. Even under the best of circumstances, it is challenging for average American families to maintain healthy household budgets while incurring back-to-school expenses. But for military families with a deployed parent, that struggle to make ends meet and provide for their children becomes even greater. The Back to School Block Party not only helps ease that financial burden for military parents, but it is also a fun event that actually gets kids excited about going back to school.

“Health Net has the important job of ensuring quality medical care for military families in the Northeast region every day. But knowing the pressures these families face, we want to do more,” said Sue Schwartz, vice president of beneficiary and congressional relations for Health Net Federal Services, Inc. “Working with the ASYMCA to help these kids prepare for school is another way for us to show appreciation and support for our troops.”

The event also benefited from the support of United Concordia Companies, Inc., the region's TRICARE dental provider, which distributed toothbrushes and dental care information . JC Penny also gave ASYMCA a generous discount on backpacks.

Despite the bad weather, more than half of the backpacks were distributed. Those families unable to attend Saturday's event were able to receive backpacks at Camp Lejeune ASYMCA's popular Backdoor Boutique, which draws as many as 1,000 people every other week. With just a $2 donation to the ASYMCA, families can “shop” the boutique for items ranging from clothing, car seats, house wares and food, turning their $2 into $200-300 worth of donated merchandise. Backdoor Boutique benefits families who are trying to re-establish their households after relocation or who are struggling to make ends meet.

While the Back to School Block Party and Backdoor Boutique are indeed great examples of how ASYMCA engages Camp Lejeune families, the organization provides a wide range of more than 20 other programs throughout the year. In 2005 alone, Camp Lejeune ASYMCA served more than 42,000 military family members.

The children of America's troops sacrifice so much for our freedom at such a young age. Whether it's time to go back to school or any time at all, it's important that we show them we care. To find out more about how ASYMCA serves the children and families of America's junior enlisted military personnel, please visit www.asymca.org.