Though sacrifices come with the military job description, it can be tough for Sailors to give up time with family and loved ones. However, by offering the United Through Reading program, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) gives service members the opportunity to maintain a connection back home.

United Through Reading was founded by in 1989 by Betty Mohlenbrock, the wife of a naval flight surgeon who, because of his work, spent many nights away from his daughter and felt like a stranger to her. The program is designed to provide a reliable and repeatable read-aloud experience for the children of military members.

“This program allows Sailors the time and place to just be themselves and read to their loved ones,” said Religious Programs Specialist 3rd Class Sarah Herrera, Abraham Lincoln’s United Through Reading program coordinator. “It can be quite difficult for some members who haven’t seen their families in a while, so I’m very happy we can provide them the chance to do this.”

To participate, Sailors can stop by the Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD) library, select a children’s book or bring their own and record themselves reading the book in a private space. The recording is placed on a dvd and mailed, along with a copy of the book, back home to the family member, all free of charge. There’s no time limit on how long Sailors can read, and they are afforded time at the beginning and end of the reading for personal messages.

“It’s important to me that my son be able to see and hear me anytime he wants,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Nicolas Ralton, who read for his 11-week old son. “I know it can be tough for children growing up with a parent gone on military service, so I’m thankful this program exists to maintain some form of connection.”

United Through Reading aims to relieve some of the anxiety and stress caused by separation, allow service members to become part of the family’s daily life at home again and enable homecomings in which a child welcomes a familiar parent.

“The underlying theme of concern from many Sailors is worry about missing a critical part of their child’s life, a portion of time that a Sailor might feel will have a long-lasting impact on the relationship between parent and child,” said Abraham Lincoln’s Psychiatrist Lt. Nnamdi Ohaeri. “. My response to them is that children are more resilient than we think. As long as the Sailors maintain a level of stability and unconditional positive regard for the role they play in their children’s life, being away for extended periods of time will not necessarily have a negative impact on the relationship. Programs like United Through Reading, amongst other adaptive coping mechanisms and activities, are a good way for Sailors to stay connected.”

So far, 25 Sailors have utilized the program. As underways and deployment ramp up, CRMD hopes more Sailors will participate.

“United Through Reading is still in its beginning stages here on Abraham Lincoln, but by deployment we will have it running like a well-oiled machine,” said Chaplain Lt. Youree Posey.

CRMD is open for recording from 0930-1100 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the CRMD library located at 03-118-10-L. For more information, speak to RP3 Herrera or go to www.UnitedThroughReading.org. The CRMD computer lab is also available every day for Sailors to reach back home via Facebook or email.

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