Sesame Street USO tour entertains children at Malmstrom AFB

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Military members and their children gathered to watch the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families at the Malmstrom Air Force Base auditorium June 20.

"This is a live singing and dancing thank-you card hand delivered to Malmstrom," said Nicole McClendon, USO tour manager for the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families.

Children got to dance and sing along with their favorite Sesame Street characters such as Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, Rosita and Katie.

Being a military child pretty much comes with a guarantee of moving multiple times before even graduating high school. Because of that, it can cause stress to some children.

During this Sesame Street experience, military children who have gone through multiple moves can relate to one of the characters.

"There's a very special character named Katie," McClendon said. "She happens to be a military child herself and just found out that her family has to move to another base, so there's a muppet just like them up on stage."

Katie is going through something most of the children have to go through sometimes seven to 14 times before they're even in high school, said McClendon.

This visit was the 28th stop out of 69 bases in 32 states this year for the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families.

The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families has been performing since 2008 and this is the second version of the show. Katie started performing with them in 2011.

Since 2008, the Sesame Street/USO Experience has been to over 130 military installations in 33 states.

McClendon has been part of this tour for two years now.

"It's amazing, it's wonderful," she said. "I have been helping spread happiness from place to place. The only time kids are sad is when the show is over. They have twirly lights to take home. It's a wonderful experience."

The next stop for the tour is F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.