Flat Daddy Program for Iraq

August 29, 2006

Life-sized likenesses of Guard members ease separation pains

Posted by The Associated Press, Wire Report
at 11:11 AM

http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/006922.html

The Flat Daddy / Mommy program was rolled out at the beginning of this year with the deployment of the Brewer-based B Company, 3rd Battalion of the 172nd Mountain Infantry. The Guard is paying to have a photo of its member blown up and provides supplies to families to attach the photo to foam board. Cutouts also are provided to parents and family members of childless service members. This is weird. People are carrying there photo's all over. According to the article linked above one has been to birthday parties, ballgames, school, the hairdresser and a funeral.

This is supposed to create less separation anxiety. However, it seems this may do more damage than good. Kids dragging around a life sized cutout is going to bring on questions from the general public and ridicule from there peers, especially at school. Children don't need this. A picture is not a substitute for a person. Emails, letters and phone calls are what kids need when a parent is absent.

Read the article, judge for yourself........ but I think this is a bad idea that just makes the situation worse :-(