Gary Tanner of the American Legion Department of Michigan interacts with children at the opening of the Sesame Room in Dearborn at the Henry Ford Centennial Library on Dec. 10. The room, named the Elmobility Room, is a mobile play and learning area that can be used by children of military personnel while their parents attend briefings and meetings.
DEARBORN – Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. gathered with local veterans, Michigan Military Moms, military personnel and their families Thursday to officially bring a Sesame (Street) “Elmobility Room” into service.
Equipped with DVDs, books, and fun and educational toys with a “Sesame Street” theme, the Elmobility Room provides a place for the children of military personnel to play and learn while their parents attend briefings and meetings.
“It was great to see such a positive response from the children at the opening of the Elmobility Room. It just goes to show that this will be a welcoming place for children and a much needed service for our military families,” O’Reilly said.
Dearborn’s Elmobility Room will be able to be moved as necessary to accommodate military families around the region.
The Elmobility Room was created and donated by the Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind “Sesame Street” and was brought to Dearborn through efforts of the American Legion Department of Michigan, Michigan Military Moms and the city.
Gary Tanner, state Reconnect Committee chairman for the American Legion Department of Michigan, spearheaded the project.
“We have envisioned the Elmobility Room as a special version of the Sesame Room that can be transported by a trailer to and from various National Guard and reserve units when needed,” said Gary Tanner of the American Legion Department of Michigan.
“We hope the Elmobility Room will serve many more units and families as opposed to placing it in just one unit permanently,” Tanner said.
The city was chosen for the unveiling of the Elmobility Room because of the efforts of Tanner, a Dearborn resident; the Michigan Military Moms involvement in the community; its proximity to many local National Guard and Reserve units in southeast Michigan, and the city.