Dear Editor,

War takes its toll not only on the service members who fight in the field, but also on the families who wait and worry at home. Nearly 234,000 kids have at least one parent who is deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan (2007 Defense Manpower Data Center report). This astounding number doesn't include those experiencing a parent's routine, but often lengthy, deployment supporting missions elsewhere around the world.

The National Military Family Association’s Operation Purple program helps military children and families cope with the deployment of a loved one. Specific program offerings include:

• Operation Purple Summer Camp -- Free summer camps for military children whose parents are currently deployed. The program is the only camp program in existence that brings together kids from all military branches and provides them with tools to deal with war-related stress.

• Operation Purple Family Retreats -- Free retreats to help families reconnect after a loved one returns from deployment. The retreats are designed to allow families to learn new communication skills and build closeness after experiencing the challenges surrounding a deployment.

We invite you to visit one or more of these Summer Camps or Family Retreats (www.operationpurple.org lists camp locations/dates across the country) and learn first-hand what it’s like to live in a family with parent in the military and experience the challenges of deployment and reintegration. We’re open to story ideas and can work with you to create a highly visual and engaging news piece.

In support of Operation Purple stories, the National Military Family Association can also offer new research, published in the journal Pediatrics, exploring the impact of multiple deployments on families. This unprecedented study confirms the challenges children, spouses and families face while managing the stress of war.

Our team will follow-up with you via phone to discuss your interest in fitting this story into related coverage you have planned for this summer, or creating a unique stand-alone story. In the meantime, please contact Jason Lourie with any questions at 312-240-2925 or  jason.lourie@edelman.com.

Thank you!