European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday april 18, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 9 puppeteer gets to heart of children by j. King Cruger . Bureau Raf Alconbury England when Mike Boyd wants to say something serious to children he lets some one else the talking. Kids will listen to a puppet Long before they will listen to an adult say the same words the air forc Captain said. Boyd s 53 puppets entertain children while telling them about alcohol and drug abuse crime prevention child abuse and Christian education. Boyd 33, the Section commander of the 10th aircraft generation so has been using puppets since the 1970s. I was sitting in Church when i realized that every thing in the Church was geared to adults Boyd said. Everything was just going Over the Heads of the so the Huntsville ala., native decided to use puppets to bring the programs to the youngsters level. Boyd worked As a chemist for a tire company before he was accepted into the air Force s officer training school. When he went off to ots one of his puppets went along with him. I took along a three Star general Boyd said. He could get away with things that i could t. He could yell at the instructors and Tell them what a Lousy program they were while stationed at Charleston fab s.c., Boyd got his first professional training in puppetry. He and his wife Patty who makes the puppets costumes Assem bled a band of teen agers and sponsored by their base Chapel toured six Southern states with puppet shows. Now the Boyds have assembled a group of american youngsters from Raf Alconbury Michelle Miller Konsti Johnsrud Katie Eastham Alan Aldridge an Beth Kuhn to put on shows. They Are working on a musical a satirical look at How gospel music has changed through history. Boyd Hopes twill be ready for performance in May. Youngsters must be at least 13 years old to take part in the Boyds puppet troupe which Means their sons Bill 10, and Brian 7, can t take part. They have seen every show we have done so they Are air Force capt. Mike Boyd from Raf Alconbury England is surrounded by some of his our biggest and Best critics Boyd said. Why does Boyd spend so much time and Money Between $90 and $140 per puppet on puppetry i love puppetry but More importantly i m trying to help parents raise their kids. I always come out from behind the stage and Tell the kids that there is More to the program than what they have seen and that they should go Home and talk to their parents about what the puppets have been when he retires from the air Force Boyd wants to work for Jim Henson creator of the puppets. I have a degree in chemistry but that s not where the fever group lists recommendations for upgrading army d.,
