Elva Resa Publishing, MilitaryFamilyBooks.com, and Books Make a Difference magazine are pleased to honor Miss Briley Rossiter as our Military Kid Extraordinaire for April’s Month of the Military Child.
“We certainly honor ALL military children this month,” says Karen Pavlicin-Fragnito, representing the organizations. “But Briley—along with her siblings—touched our hearts in a special way. Briley is an amazing example of how special military kids are and the difference a young person can make in the world.”
Briley wrote a story when she was eleven years old about her younger sister, Ainsley, who was diagnosed with infantile neuraxonal dystrophy (INAD), a rare degenerative dystrophy, and how racing together changed their lives. Her story became the book Born An Angel. Briley, now twelve years old, attends three to four events each month to promote the book, race with her sister, and raise money for Ainsley’s Angels of America, a nonprofit her family founded to raise awareness of America’s special needs community. Working with local chapters around the country, the foundation provides equipment, such as joggers, to enable people with disabilities to enjoy endurance events like those Ainsley participates in.
Read more about Briley and her journey as a preteen published author in Books Make a Difference magazine.
Meet Briley Rossiter and her siblings, Ainsley and Kamden
Briley Rossiter – protective older sister and writer:
“My name is Briley and I’m a 12 year old in the 7th grade. I love to write, listen to music, hang out with my friends, and push my sister in races. The thing I like most about being a military child is not something I am doing, but what my dad is doing. Knowing that he is fighting for our country and making it a better place here is really an amazing thought. I am very proud of him, and I am glad to be a part of an amazing community of military children, families, and service members.”
Ainsley Rossiter – worldwide inspiration and captain racer:
“Hi, my name is Ainsley and I am 10 years old. I love snuggling with my mom and dad, looking at books, listening to music, and competing in races with my sister and my dad. The thing I love most about being a military kid is that I have been able to inspire people all over the world and educate several different doctors about my rare, genetic dystrophy, INAD. I hope to compete in several more races and inspire more people!” (Written with the help of her siblings.)
Kamden Rossiter – little brother and talented artist:
“Hi, my name is Kamden and I am 8 years old. I love to play ice hockey, play outside with my friends, and go boogie boarding at the beach. I also like to play Minecraft and Xbox. What I love most about being a military kid is knowing that my daddy fights for our country! He would give his life for our country and that makes me feel safe and very proud! I also think it’s cool that I have friends in a bunch of different states. When I grow up, I want to be a Marine, too, and train K-9 dogs. I also want to play ice hockey and raise money for charity!”
Kamden’s art (Children with Dandelions) was selected as the Virginia Beach Public School logo for Month of the Military Child and is being used throughout the school district.
Briley, Ainsley, and Kamden are the children of Lori and Major Kim Rossiter, USMC. They live in Virginia.
The entire Rossiter family will join First Lady Michelle Obama, Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and former Senator Elizabeth Dole at the White House on Friday, April 11, 2014 for a Joining Forces event honoring caregivers and an announcement about support for the caregivers of wounded service members and veterans.
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More about Briley Rossiter: http://BooksMakeADifference.com/briley-rossiter/
Briley’s Facebook page about her book: https://FB.com/BornAnAngelbyBriley
More about Ainsley Rossiter and Ainsley’s Angels: AinsleysAngels.org
More about Dr. Jill Biden & her support for military families: http://BooksMakeADifference.com/jill-biden/
Elva Resa Publishing is an independent publisher based in St Paul, Minnesota, whose mission is to make a difference in people’s lives. Our primary imprint specializes in resources for military families. We are grateful for all service members and their families. ElvaResa.com
UPDATE October 2014: Briley is now an Elva Resa author! She shares her message of acceptance and resiliency in her essay “Loving My Sister” in Stories Around the Table: Laughter, Wisdom, and Strength in Military Life. Visit Briley’s author page.