Alamogordo NM
4-05-2024 5:11am

Why is Purple and the Month of the Military Child Important?

April is the Month of the Military Child and an important symbol month of recognition and unity in our community. 

The Alamogordo and area communities celebrate our military kids, and show your love and support for the amazing kids in our community who are the silent heroes of our military families.
Reminder, Purple Up day is April 25th within the Alamogordo Public Schools System. This is an annual celebration and tradition dating back over a decade locally. Our community wears purple and decks out in purple as a symbol of solidarity with military kids. 

April, the Month of the Military Child, celebrates military-connected children and youth. They show an ability to adapt in the face of unique challenges. They make sacrifices while their service members protect our nation’s safety.

Purple is the official color of the military child. It’s a combination of all the colors of the U.S. Armed Force: Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard blues, Army green, and Marine Corps red. Programs and activities that are similar across all branches of service are called “purple.”

Wear purple to show your support and appreciation for what they do!

History of Month of the Military Child

In 1986, former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger created the first Month of the Military Child. This annual April tradition became a nationally recognized celebration of military children’s resiliency when faced with stressful situations, such as frequent moves, long separations from deployed family members, living in foreign countries, and adapting to different schools.

Why the month and symbolism is important? 

A Department of Defense 2020 Demographics Report tells us that  1,621,473 military children are in school while their parents are in Active Duty and Selected Reserve families across the world. Our district has many children impacted by the military. Military-connected children are neighbors. 

Military children come from many different backgrounds. Being in the military is different for each family. Differences are as typical of military life as similar experiences but one thing they have in common is many transfers and meeting new friends every few year and many times in new locations. This uprooting can sometimes create great challenges or stresses on young military students and their families. 

Author Lynn K. Hall said, “The defining word for the military family is change; change is what their lives are about.

On average, military families move every two to three years. Military children change schools an average of six to nine times between kindergarten and their high school graduation. Despite frequent changes, military children show remarkable resiliency like the dandelion plant.

Dandelions are the official flower of the military child. They take root and bloom wherever they are planted. Dandelion seeds fly on the wind to destinations all over the globe. Dandelions symbolize happiness, joy, perseverance, endurance, and hope – traits shown by military children.

Show Your Support for Military Children in and Around Alamogordo and our sister communities. 

Thank military children for their sacrifices and recognize their courage during Month of the Military Child.

April 25th is APS Purple Up! Day and our Holloman Middle Clap In. See you at 745 on the 25th to hoot and holler our kids in! 

Do you have a graduating senior? Holloman is hosting a senior recognition and cord ceremony. Registration required. Contact me for more info. 49wg.sl.schoolliaison@us.af.mil

Register at: https://bit.ly/HAFBsenior

At 2nd Life Media Inc. parent company of AlamogordoTownNews.com and KALHRadio.org, we celebrate the success of our community of military families and honor your commitment to service. We will see you in purple on April 25th in solidarity and recognition of the month of the military child. 

More News from Alamogordo
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive