Heartland of America Band visits local camp

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Carly A. Costello
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Members of the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band from Offutt Air Force Base performed for campers at Omaha's Salvation Army Kroc Center July 25.

Five musicians from the band, led by singers U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Rebecca Packard, Heartland of America Band first sergeant, and Senior Airman Paula Hunt, vocalist for the band's rock group Raptor and former American Idol contestant, attended the event as part of the camp's American Idol Week, where several of the campers closed out the week with American Idol -like auditions.

"The children had an experience they had not had in the past, and it was thrilling to for them to see the people who serve our country lay back and have some fun," said Gina Ponce, KROC Center director of education and arts.

The band performed five songs for the campers, including "Let it Go" from the Disney movie Frozen, which many of the campers sang along to. They also answered a wide-range of questions about the band's instruments and Air Force life.

"Though some of the kids raised their hand when asked if they have parents in the military, most of them didn't," Packard said. "The band playing at events like this presents the military, and more specifically the Air Force, in a positive way. It exposes them to the Air Force through music.
I really loved seeing the kids 'come alive' and respond as the show progressed. Watching them get into the music and sing along makes what we do so much more enjoyable."

The camp contacted Hunt back in May about visiting, and without hesitation, Hunt agreed, knowing from experience that her visit could really impact the campers.

"When I was a little girl, I remember seeing the U.S. Air Force Band come to my school and play for me," Hunt said. "That really opened up my eyes to what I could do and who I could be. They told us that in order to be great people and maybe even Airman one day that we have to study hard and be good to our teachers, and that was so important to me. I feel it's a necessity and part of my job to continue to share that message with the children in our community."

Hunt said she also enjoys giving back to the younger community and sharing her story with them.

"I was born and raised right here in Bellevue, Nebraska, and a lot of kids here don't get to see people from our local area do what I've done," Hunt said. "I feel that my story can help them believe that they can do anything. It's true that kids can do anything they put their minds to."

The camp encourages children to study hard and be good citizens, and Ponce said that the band's visit reinforced the camp's values.

"We hope the children learned that they can do anything in life they want to do, they should never give up, and the Air Force is not just about serving their country, but they know how to have fun, too," Ponce said.

Meeting Hunt and the band was a big deal to the campers and the campers' families, according to Ponce.

"[The band's] visit was incredible," Ponce said. "The children spent all weekend talking about it to their families and friends. I believe it will be a great memory for them that they would have never experienced had they not been part of Camp Kroc. The kids feel like they met a 'star'."

Camp Kroc has run every summer for 9 to 10 weeks, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for children 6 to 13 years old since 2011. More than 50 percent of the children who attend the camp are on scholarships ranging from 25 to 75 percent of the price.