SD’s United Through Reading Connects Service Members, Students Through Story Time

More than a dozen schools from Coronado to Oceanside are participating in San Diego-based United Through Reading‘s annual “Story Time with a Service Member” throughout the week to celebrate Veterans Day.

The program, beginning Monday, connects students in over 1,000 classrooms with distant military members through video-recorded story readings, helping children understand and connect with those who serve through the joy of reading.

United Through Reading provides schools with a Veterans Day video package including a library of pre-recorded stories that are age-appropriate and engaging. In some instances, service members choose their books to read. For example, a service member, Joseph Dyson, selected “Froggy Gets Dressed,” a book he was comfortable translating into American Sign Language. Every classroom registered for the program receives the same playlist, enabling teachers to choose the stories most relevant to their students.

Organizers said this year’s event aligns with National Family Literacy Month and Military Family Month, highlighting United Through Reading’s mission to connect military families through the shared bonding experience of reading aloud.

Melanie Sheridan, a military spouse and director of marketing and communications for United Through Reading, shared the program’s impact.

“It is profoundly moving to see firsthand how United Through Reading facilitates the bonding experience between members of our military and students across the country,” Sheridan said. “And through this, students gain a much deeper connection to those who serve our country.”

Since 1989, more than 3.4 million military family members have benefited from United Through Reading’s programs and services, according to the nonprofit.