WASHINGTON - The 16-year-old son of an enlisted Missouri National Guardsman became the first-ever National Guard Military Child of the Year at a Thursday evening awards ceremony here.
Zachary Alan Parsons accepted the award from Army Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, joining children from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard who represent the almost 2 million children of service members and the unique challenges they face.
Selected from a pool of almost 500 nominees, each award recipient was chosen by a committee that included active-duty and retired military personnel, spouses of senior military leaders, veteran service organization leadership, teachers and community members, according to program organizers.
"It's particularly fitting that this well-deserved recognition comes during April, the Month of the Military Child," Grass said. "Military children face unique challenges, including prolonged separation from parents and frequent moves, that require both sacrifice and resilience. Those of us in uniform serve our communities, states and nation - and so do our families."
The awardees each receive privately donated cash awards, a laptop computer and other donated gifts, and they are flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for the special recognition gala. Their awards are presented by senior leaders of each branch of service.
Zach's parents are Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason and Debbie Parsons, a Missouri farming family. Sgt. 1st Class Parsons joined his son and wife for the ceremony from the Wounded Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he is recovering from a deployment-related injury.
"When the main figure leaves your household, there is a spiral of things to deal with," Zach said. "My dad was head of household, so when he left there were so many things left to do on the farm, as well as keep our life together. Dealing with that empty space is tough."
While stepping up and sustaining many of the tasks his father used to do around their farm, Zach maintained a 3.85 grade point average in high school and threw himself into leadership and service positions in his community. Among those are his role providing support to the children of other deployed service members as a member of the Missouri National Guard Teen Advisory Council.
"Our military puts their lives on the line for our way of life, but the kids do their service, too," Zach said. "The military child takes on a lot of responsibility."
Zach's leadership efforts outside his family include contributions and service to 4-H, to a speech and debate team, to children admitted to a local emergency room and to veterans home residents.
Among other awards he has received was one for his volunteer work in Joplin, Missouri, after the town was hit by an EF5 tornado in 2011.
Zach is typical of military children who have demonstrated themselves as exceptional citizens while facing the challenges of military family life, the type of children the award is intended to recognize.
The Coast Guard recipient Thursday, 18-year-old Caleb Michael Parsons at one point took over as head of household for his three younger siblings while both parents were deployed. Among the Air Force representative's numerous accomplishments, Sarah Francesca Hesterman, 16, has already been named a Malala Girl Hero for her equal rights advocacy in Qatar, and the British Broadcasting Corporation named her among the 100 Women of 2014.
Navy awardee Emily Elizabeth Kliewer, 17, juggled her father's service and her mother's serious illness, while maintaining a 4.92 grade point average, being an All-American Swimmer, coaching Special Olympics swimmers and numerous other activities. The Army's Cavan Grey McIntyre-Brewer, 13, also has both a serving family member and another facing serious health challenges, yet he has found time to provide "pack goats" through 4-H so that wounded warriors can experience the same enjoyment of the outdoors as other people.
And attendees at Thursday's event fell silent, some wiping their eyes, as Marine Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, commanding general, Training and Education Command, turned to the Marine Child of the Year, Christopher-Raul Rios Rodriguez, 17, and reminded him of a promise Christopher had once made to his mother.
Fleeing active alcoholism and abuse, Christopher's mother took him and his siblings from their home. The family lived in homeless and women's shelters for a sustained time. Young Christopher resolved to make the best of it and to be a role model to his siblings.
"One day, I'll make your proud," he promised his mother during a shelter stay.
"You've done that," Gen. Lukeman said, as Christopher took the stage.