April salutes our country’s military kids

April is Month of the Military Child. It recognizes the important role military children play in our armed forces community. Established in 1986 by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, this month-long celebration focuses attention on the strength, bravery and resiliency of our military’s youngest members. Here’s how you can show your support.

April 21st (or any locally designated day in April) is Purple Up! Day. It’s a time for Americans to wear purple in support of military kids and their families. This grassroots effort began in 2011 to draw attention to the sacrifices military children make daily.

New Hampshire 4-H clubs developed the “Purple Up! for Military Kids” initiative while working with children of deployed National Guardsmen. The goal was to provide visible support for kids whose parents were deployed. The initiative has now spread nationwide to help military youth see how much support they have in their schools, youth groups and communities. Why purple? It’s a combination of Army green, Marine red, and Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force blue. Learn more about Purple Up! and 17 more activities for Month of the Military Child.

Check out 4-H Military Partnerships and get your kids involved.

NOTE: April is also a good time for USBA members (active, retired and honorably discharged) to consider applying for USBA term life protection for their eligible dependent children. Rates start as low as $1.50/month.