Purple Up! for Month of the Military Child
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EmailApril is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize the sacrifices made by military families and their children. On April 13, Operation: Military Kids asks everyone to wear purple to show support for military families.
April
is the Month
of the Military Child, a time to recognize the sacrifices made by military
families and their children. In support of children whose parents are serving
in the military, Michigan State University
Extension is part of Operation:
Military Kids (OMK), an effort sponsored by Army Child,
Youth and School Services in collaboration with National 4-H Headquarters, Boys & Girls Clubs of America,American Legion, Military Child Education Coalition, National Association of Child Care Resource and
Referral Agencies and other state and local organizations to help military
children and youth meet others like themselves. Children and youth whose
parents have been deployed live with uncertainty and concern for their parents
on a daily basis. Many families learn to be flexible, but long deployments can
be difficult for military children, and many have seen their parents leave
multiple times.
Military children look the same to teachers, friends and the community after a
parent deploys, but their lives have changed dramatically. Through OMK events,
military youth can connect with other youth in similar situations and to other
youth in the community. Operation: Military Kids is a national effort to
support children of deployed soldiers from all branches of the military
including Guard and Reserve. Activities
for military kids are ongoing throughout the year and throughout Michigan.
OMK needs help celebrating the Month of the Military Child and showing support
for military families. Michigan Operation: Military Kids is participating with
many other states across the United States for the second annual PURPLE UP! For Military
Kids! Everyone across the state of Michigan is encouraged to wear purple on
Friday, April 13 as
a visible way to show support and thank military children for their strength
and sacrifices. Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the
military, as it is the combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force
blue, Marine red and Navy blue. OMK hopes everyone will take this opportunity
to appreciate and celebrate these young heroes.
The goal is for military families to actually see the support of their community. Ideas include:
- Ask local, regional, and state officials to wear purple on April 13
- Spread the word by inviting newspaper and media outlets to feature a story about Purple Up! For Military Kids
- Involve area schools, sports teams, youth organizations and clubs, afterschool programs and recreation departments
- Engage the Chamber of Commerce, fraternal organizations, social clubs and Rotary groups
- Request local businesses post a Purple Up! message on their roadside signs and ask employees to wear purple
- Ask stores and restaurants to offer a discount to all patrons who wear purple
- Invite family, friends, coworkers, members of the spiritual community, exercise class or sports leagues to join in showing support for the military youth in town
Photos of Purple Up! for Military Kids activities may be sent to OMK for posting on the MI OMK website and Facebook page, where military youth and families from across the state will see them. To find out more information about Purple Up! for Military Kids and Operation: Military Kids, please visit the OMK website.
