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Team Bolling celebrates Read Across America

  • Published
  • By Marilyn Holliday
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
BOLLING AFB, D.C. --  Since March 2, 1998, children have been part of the largest celebration of reading in America.

March 2 is the birth date of Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, children's book author and the date selected by the National Education Association for the annual observance of Read Across America.

At Bolling, leaders from throughout the base lined up to read to children at the base's library to read to children all day March 2.

"This day is truly rewarding for the readers and the children," Col. Carl Gramlick, 11th Wing vice commander, said. "It's a great feeling to know that you're part of a program that's geared toward helping children get excited about reading."

Mr. Geisel was prompted to write a book with 250 words that his publisher felt were important for children to learn. The publisher created the list of words after a report was published in 1954 citing that children were having trouble reading because their books were boring. Mr. Geisel penned, "The Cat in the Hat," using 220 of those words, and the book was a success.

"I'm always one of the first people to sign up to read," John Robinette, 11th Services Division director. "Reading is such a huge part of everyone's life and today we celebrate the birth date of a man who made reading fun for so many."

Mr. Geisel authored and illustrated 44 children's books before he died Sept. 24, 1991.