Chanhassen Parade Honors Military Children
CHANHASSEN (WCCO) -- At the Chanhassen Rotary Parade, a special group of children got a standing ovation due to their special bond. Each of the 60 children has parents who are deployed service members.
Noelle Huver's father, Master Staff Sgt. Kurt Huver is with the Minnesota Air National Guard and was recently deployed to the Middle East for a year.
"I miss him a lot," Noelle said. "He's funny. He's fun to be around."
It's the first time she and her family have spent July 4th without him. She and the others children of deployed service members were given flags to carry and dog-tags to wear in the parade through Chanhassen.
"I think it helps to connect and to feel like we're doing something to recognize him in what he's doing," said Noelle's mom, Jennifer.
"It does make me feel better," said Noelle, who saw what other people think of her dad, too. She was taken back by the support from strangers.
"Well, it's got to be really hard to be a kid of a service person, and have your mom or dad be gone, and I know that's really tough. So, I think that any recognition they can get is a good thing," said Marcy Valenty, who was watching the parade.
The parade was filmed and each child will get two copies of it, including one to send to their parent who's in the military.
