Seven years ago, when Marine and ex-Oakland Raider football player Glenn Ellison walked the few hundred yards from his headquarters at The Parent Help Center in Jacksonville, Florida, to the Jacksonville National Cemetery, he came looking for a job, not for himself, but for the dozens of at-risk youth he mentors in the summer. By chance, he ran into 23-year Florida National Guard soldier and Afghanistan Veteran, Larry Feltner, a maintenance worker at the national cemetery. The bond was immediate.
“We got work,” Larry said.
Ellison hosts two summer camps each year—one for boys and one for girls. Camp Consequence was created for parents, children and families.
“We believe that the first step in behavior change is the parent,” said Ellison. “Once we have taught the parents what to do at the Empowered Parent Conference, we show them how to do it at Camp Consequence. Camp Consequence is the place where their questions get answered and their parenting plan starts to come together. Camp Consequence is also where their child will begin to understand.”
While parents are learning new coping skills, children learn about responsibility and consequences in an austere environment—away from television, music and smartphones.
“It’s a real eye-opener,” said Ellison.
A big part of the success of this program takes place at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Children arrive at the cemetery prepared to work. A typical day begins with the National Anthem, salute to the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Then they clean headstones, weed flowerbeds and pick up trash. They are also taught military customs and courtesies.
“Very quickly they learn to take off their hats and stand at attention when they hear TAPS,” said Feltner. “They also learn about being respectful of those interred here, to talk quietly, not lean on upright headstones, etc.”
Feltner has been employed with the Jacksonville National Cemetery since 2008 and volunteers with the Jacksonville Youth Camp. He is responsible for motivating at-risk youths to be productive members of society in the years to come.
Another important piece of the Parent Help Center program takes place year-round. Every third Saturday, Ellison brings children and parents in the program to the cemetery. They meet at the main flagpole where former military members stand before bronze emblems representing their branch of service and share stories of sacrifice. It’s powerful and emotional. The impact is palpable.
“The children see an honorable option for their future,” said former Jacksonville policeman, Wally Butler. “My son was in and out of the program several times. This summer he’ll graduate from basic training at Fort Sill.”
Wally’s wife, Becky, served as the Girls Camp director from 2013-2016. She took this year off to see her son graduate.
“The girls show real ownership of the cemetery,” said Butler. “When Veterans or family members see all those young people out there caring for their loved ones, it gets quite emotional. They’ve even stopped to take pictures with the teenagers.”
Often when the children return to Jacksonville National Cemetery, they’ll point out the section they worked on or wonder ‘why there’s a weed growing in my cemetery.’
Families participate in The Parent Help Center program from all over the country. Former Heisman Trophy winner, Charlie Ward and his wife, Tonja, found the program worked for their son.
The youngest of their three children spent last summer in camp. So far the turnaround has been remarkable.
“We needed an assist. We tried everything and we are thankful we found this program,” Tonja Ward said. “After completing camp, our son earned four citizenship awards, made the Honor Roll, and even came back as a camp helper.”
Jacksonville National Cemetery Director Al Richburg sees great value in the program for youth and families.
“The program has a high rate of success,” said Richburg, who retired from the U.S. Army in 1994. “At the same time, we get to teach children about duty, honor and service, and show them how we take care of the men and women who served the country.”
James Theres is a speechwriter for the National Cemetery Administration in Washington D.C. He is a U.S. Army Veteran of the Persian Gulf War and a 10-time VHA Communication Awards recipient while serving as a public affairs officer in Jackson, Mississippi, and Tomah, Wisconsin. The 30th of May is his first documentary film.
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The Parent Help Center saved my home!
Glenn Ellison, his wife Sheila, and the entire staff are dedicated to saving families! With love and strength they teach us how to be better parents, and they impart the skills we need to bring peace into our homes. They teach our children the importance of respect, a good work ethic, and that their choices have consequences…good or bad. They are changing the lives of so many families where hope was lost.
Mr. Ellison is a marine who has devoted his life to a crusade that is of great importance, which is changing hearts and homes!
What a positive emotional rush reading this. Saying this is a great value for families and youth is an understatement. As a vet, and any vet, would be touched.
God bless,
you guys are doing an amazing job. Thank you for all you are doing for the at-risk youth.
Kudos to Mr. Ellison for all his hard work with at-risk kids and also to all the parents who put their children into the program. It’s wonderful to see that they want their kids to be productive members of society and to gain the knowledge of why this nation has the freedoms we all enjoy to this day, given by all those who have served and especially to those who gave all and are at rest in that cemetery. As the father of a Navy man I am always watching to make sure our military is respected for the often thankless tasks they’ve done to keep us all enjoying the freedoms we have.
As a Veteran and a Dad all I can say is that is one of the most outstanding programs I have ever heard of for kids to learn respect, honor and commitment. Keep up the great work!
Comment. +*
I submitted a VA form for burial in the National Cemetery in Sarpy Co., NE (Omaha). I submitted this form sometime late April this year and have heard nothing from them re: permission and a burial space. I was told it would take 3 months or so before I would hear. I am honorably discharged and my service number is NG27719777 redacted. George J. Sweeney, Lincoln, NE. Thank you.