On Feb. 11, Ashurst Elementary School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico became the recipient of 90 books donated through the Books on Bases program run by Blue Star Families.

The students from Ashurst’s three first grade classrooms gathered in the library after lunch for a special story hour with Maj. Gen. Andrew O’Donnell, deputy commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command and father of Ashurst first grader Isabelle.

O’Donnell read “Cedric and the Dragon,” one of the three donated titles.

After the reading, each student was given a book, bookmark and pencil to keep. The remaining books will be given to the school library and to first grade teachers for their classroom book collections.

Through the Books on Bases program, which was developed in 2009, Blue Star Families donates books to military children, base libraries and military-impacted schools on and off base. Kate Pennington, a program manager with Blue Star Families, said the organization receives funding through companies such as Disney.

Individuals and other organizations also hold local book drives and then donate the books to Books on Bases for distribution. Only new copies of books are accepted as donations and given out to the children.

Pennington said Blue Star Families distributes books at a variety of different events, including National Guard and Reserve drill weekends when family events are held.

Deputy Director of Programs Sheila Stevens said more than 45,000 books were distributed at more than 80 events in 2014 around the globe. The specific titles to be purchased are selected by consensus among the Blue Star Families program managers and the various sponsors. The target age range of the book recipients is 0-13, though older teens are also welcome to select books that appeal to them at the donation events.

Schools, libraries and military units wishing to receive a donation of books can contact the director of their local Blue Star Families chapter.

There are currently 50 chapters worldwide, and a complete listing of their locations and contact information can be found at www.bluestarfamilies.org.

Also attending the story hour on Feb. 11 was Today Show producer Durrell Dawson, who was filming the event for a story on the work of Blue Star Families. The segment is scheduled to air the first week of March; the exact show time will be posted on the MCBQ Facebook page when it becomes known. 

— Writer: ebaker@quanticosentryonline.com