CAMP LEJEUNE Sutton Alford, 10, lives near Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina. Last week, Sutton (seated far left) visited a school on the base. Read his full report at www.timeforkids.com/base
At Stone Street Elementary, about half of the school's 380 kids have a parent who has been ordered overseas. Guidance counselor Hollis Peterson helps them deal with a parent's absence and talk about their feelings and fears.
Fifth grader Nick Mortenson's dad is stationed near Iraq. "I'm not too worried," says Nick. "This is the job my dad picked, and he is well-trained." Some of the students' parents are on the same ship. The kids are comforted by the fact that their parents are together, protecting each other.
Hollis Peterson knows firsthand how the kids feel. Her husband is stationed overseas too. She encourages the kids to send their parent letters, e-mails and photos. "Staying in touch makes you feel better," she says.
San Francisco Mia Kabasakalis, 13, covered an antiwar demonstration in California on January 17. Read her full report at www.timeforkids.com/protests
"What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now!" At the antiwar protest in San Francisco, thousands were shouting this chant, including kids. Noah Lazarus, 11, said, "We need to give peace a chance."
Demonstrators in cities across the nation and around the world hoped to show that many people do not want a war with Iraq. A U.S. poll last week showed 43% of Americans oppose the war. But even if the U.S. does go to war, protesters said they won't give up. When asked what he'll do if the United States declares war on Iraq, protester Elliott Schwimmer, 12, said, "Keep on protesting."