The U.S. Department of Defense distributes a children's video starring
Sesame Street's Elmo designed to help children adjust to life in a military
family. 

SESAME STREET VNR -

 The Sesame Street Workshop has created a new DVD special about
children coping within a military family.  The DVD, which features the popular
puppet monsters Elmo and Rosita, will be distributed by the U.S. Department of
Defense to help support military families with children experiencing parental
deployments, homecomings, and even combat injuries.
    The DVD, entitled "Talk, Listen, Connect," is a bi-lingual
(English and Spanish) multimedia outreach program designed for children aged
two to five. 
    The video features two stories.  The first involves Elmo who must cope
with his dad returning from war and rejoining the family, and then his sadness
and disappointment that comes when his father is called to duty again.
    Elmo, who is undoubtedly one of the most popular Sesame Street
characters, talked about his dad's deployment and homecoming. 
    "Elmo's daddy came back, and he went, and he came back, but then
he had to go again.  Elmo was kind of very sad when he left.  But when he came
back, Elmo was more dependent on mommy with things.  So Elmo kind of had to
get used to daddy being around again, and it worked out," said Elmo.
    The second story of the video follows Elmo's Latino counterpart,
Rosita.  Rosita must cope with her father coming back from war in a wheelchair
after being injured in the line of duty.
    Said Rosita, "My dad came home using a wheel chair and, well,
everything changed at home.  I used to love dancing with my dad.  We used to
love playing ball, and we ran together.  And you know what?  I always used to
win!  And, well, now we can't do that anymore."
    According to Sesame Street, Rosita's story is geared to help give
children an age-appropriate understanding of a parent's injury by including
them in the rehabilitation process.
    The U.S. government will distribute 500,000 copies of "Talk,
Listen, Connect" and analyze its success in aiding families cope with
war.