Military Kids Learn Art of Expression by Creating Masks of Hope

Though just a young teen, Ashlynne Deason is wise beyond her years. Growing up as a military kid, she’s done things and been places many kids her age haven’t.

The experiences of military children are unique, and their service is sometimes overlooked. About 1.2 million children around the globe have a parent in the U.S. military. They regularly have to adjust to relocating, attending new schools, and making new friends. They are also often dealing with a parent being away on birthdays, holidays, and other life events, as well as taking on additional household responsibilities or helping care for siblings.

Sometimes, those unique experiences are amazing opportunities, but other times, they can be overwhelming and tumultuous. While resiliency and strength can be part of a military child’s makeup, it’s also important to understand the challenges that come with having parents in the service.

Kids Rank, a community partner of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP), serves military children through hands-on skill-building projects and volunteer opportunities that encourage and promote resilience and build connections with other military kids.  

“People don’t always consider the children and the way military children are impacted,” said Kelcey Liverpool, founder and executive director of Kids Rank.

One of the skill-building projects Kids Rank does and WWP specifically supports is the Masks of Hope program. These non-clinical, art-based workshops allow school-age military kids to express themselves and their individuality by creating three-dimensional masks. The masks have been displayed at the White House, the National Veterans Art Museum, and other locations across the country.

Painting a Picture

Masks of Hope allows military kids to paint a fuller picture of who they are and what they’re going through. The program is conducted in schools and communities with a large military population. The Masks of Hope workshops introduce kids to three primary colors and teach them to mix paints to connect their feelings to a color.

“It’s a way to open up the conversation with military kids about their different emotions,” said Moki Tantoco, programs manager for Kids Rank.

Some of the questions military kids are asked through the program include, what masks do you wear as a military kid and why do we wear masks? Moki said these conversations lead to the design of the masks. During the workshop, the students also learn relaxation breathing techniques and how to express their feelings in a positive way. The kids present their masks to one another and provide critiques.

“The art critiques give the kids the opportunity to share the process and meaning behind their choices,” Moki said. “We’ve been so surprised by the creativity the kids have and the vulnerability that shows up in their artmaking.”

Ashlynne, whose father serves in the U.S. Navy, has created two masks during her time with Kids Rank. Her first was when she was around 10, and the second was when she was 12. Her second mask was selected to be displayed in the White House.

For her first mask, Ashlynne focused on the circle of life, flowers, and growth, but her perspective changed between her first and second masks. The COVID-19 pandemic affected friendships and socialization and her dad was on lockdown at his base.

“There was a lot more feeling toward being a military kid, so I was able to put down some thoughts, and the pain I was feeling. I put a crack down the middle, and I had a side that was really light and bright and happy, which is really who I am as a person. But then there was that other side, where it was always night and moments that don’t feel real.”

Honoring the Military Child

Each April, the Department of Defense celebrates military kids and their unique challenges and experiences during the Month of the Military Child.

Kids Rank celebrates this special month with multiple events and activities throughout April and continues to support military kids throughout the year. Kids Rank’s programs are open to school-age military children from all service branches, including active duty, reservists, retirees, and families of the fallen.   

Ashlynne’s mother Ashley Deason introduced her to Kids Rank to help her connect with other kids who were dealing with similar feelings and to have a creative outlet to express her emotions.

“What was really special about this program to me is that I got to do it with some of my closest friends,” Ashlynne said. “And it was really cool because we all had so many different ideas.”

Dealing with Mixed Emotions

Military kids can be torn about their feelings when it comes to service. There’s the pride of having a parent sacrifice and serve the country, but the sadness of worrying about that parent and missing them when they’re gone for training or deployments. In addition, a lot of military kids, like Ashlynne, have an appreciation for the military and feel a sense of service that comes from their parents serving.

Ashlynne is very close to her dad and couldn’t be prouder of what he does.

“I’ve always been very proud that my dad is in the Navy, so I really had to assess what my feelings were,” Ashlynne said. “I feel like Kids Rank and the Masks of Hope program gave me an outlet where I can talk about my feelings.”

Ashlynne understands her dad may not always be there for birthdays or holidays, so they make sure to make the most of their time together.

“It feels so special when I spend that time with my dad because we don’t get it all the time. But we're really thankful for any of those small moments,” Ashlynne said. Their time together also gives Ashlynne “a very deep sense of gratitude and feeling that we kind of serve this country in a little bit of a way.”

The Art of Expression

Many of today’s military kids have had to deal with multiple deployments during 20 years of war in the Middle East, as well as an unprecedented pandemic that changed their everyday lives. Having a way to cope or express emotions became even more important for this generation of military kids.

The Masks of Hope project gives a glimpse of this unique place and time in a military kid’s life and has found a way to build those important connections with others.

“When kids see their work and describe it to their families and visitors, they get to share their perspective and experience,” Kelcey said. “[The masks] are so stunning. I've been blown away by how thoughtful they are.”

Throughout the project, kids figure out different ways to express themselves and make their voices heard.

“We get to see kids gain confidence from the beginning of the session to the end of the session,” said Kids Rank Chief of Staff Ellia Trevino. “Sometimes they aren’t able to vocalize their feelings, but they can use their masks to describe what they’re going through.”

Most of all, it’s important to let military kids know their feelings are valid and they have support regardless of where they’re located. Organizations like Kids Rank and WWP aim to let military families know they’re not alone.

“It’s important to have that feeling of security where you feel like you have someplace, you can go, someplace that feels like home,” Ashlynne said. “That’s how I feel about Kids Rank.”

For more information, visit Kids Rank.org. You can also connect with other military families by registering with WWP. 

Contact: — Paris Moulden, Public Relations, pmoulden@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.570.7910

About Wounded Warrior Project

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more.