Elmo, Cookie Monster pay visit to Sheppard Elementary

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Students at Sheppard Elementary School were treated to a surprise visit by two of the most famous faces in television history Dec. 4 as Elmo and the Cookie Monster made an appearance at the on-base school.

Both characters from the show "Sesame Street Live", in Wichita Falls for three shows downtown at the Kay Yeager Coliseum, visited with the students and sat during story reading time by teachers from the school.

Quotes from the show from all the children were in abundance throughout the assembly area, most notably the singing of the phrase "La, la, la...la, la, la....it's Elmo's world."

The visit to Sheppard happened almost by accident.

"Eunice Nelson was coordinating the 80th Flying Training Wing holiday party and had called the show trying to see if they would be in town during our holiday party," said Theresa Bareihs, wife of 80th FTW commander Col. Dieter Bareihs. "It turned out they weren't available for our holiday party; however, a phone call back to (Sesame Street show producers) was made and they wanted to still come out to Sheppard, so the school visit became a reality."

According to Marvin Peevey, Sheppard Elementary principal, the visit by Elmo and Cookie Monster to the school is the first.

"It's great to have them here," Peevey said. "Our students were very excited to get the chance to meet our special guests."

School visits and tours of children's hospitals are always on the agenda of the hit show when they travel to cities around the country on their nine-month tour.

"We love to visit all the children," said Jerry DuMars, "Sesame Street Live" performance director. "We also do shows for the USO (United Service Organization) just for the military to show our sincere appreciation for what the military does."

Although the students were sad when the guests had to leave, they didn't leave empty handed. Students received a voucher for admission to one of the three shows here Dec. 4-5.