The American Legion Auxiliary’s Edna Donovan would like to see a whole lot more people wearing purple around town. Not for fashion’s sake — far from it. Instead, to help commemorate April as the Month of the Military Child.
“It’s important for us to honor the sacrifices kids with parents in the military make,” Donovan said. There are more than 1.6 million military children in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Why purple? “Purple symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red, Navy blue and Space Force blue,” said information published by the Kansas Department of Education.
Military-connected children face many challenges. Frequent relocations, family separation during deployment, and the stress of knowing a parent is in harm’s way can all take their toll. Military families move on average every two to three years.
Observing Month of the Military Child is one more way to understand that the sacrifices our soldiers make are not theirs alone, said Donovan, noting that military families also give up time together and experiences.
Next week, April 13-17, is Military Kids week, with April 15 as Purple Up! Day, according to the Department of Defense’s Military Community and Family Policy.
You can learn about additional ways to celebrate the month online at dodea.edu/month-military-child.
