Each year, April is set aside as a military child appreciation month, officially known as the Month of the Military Child. Today there are more than 1.6 million military children who face challenges and unique experiences as a result of their parents' devotion to service.

Did you know, on average, Military families move every two to three years? This impacts children by having to change schools, adjusting to new homes or cultures, and often times, having to leave friends behind. On top of frequently moving around, military children also have to deal with separations from family members, deployments, and even their parents' injuries as part of the life they were born into or entered with their families.

Due to these challenges and tough circumstances, the term "military brat" is worn as a badge of pride by generations of kids who traveled the world with their parents, moving into adulthood with the knowledge that they have the strength to handle anything.

Purple Up! Day

During the Month of the Military Child, Purple Up! Day on April 15th recognizes some of the military's most unsung heroes - their children. The day encourages everyone to wear purple representing all branches of the military and showing unity with each other.  Be sure to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices!  Purple indicates that all branches of the military are supported; Air Force blue, Army green, Navy blue, Marine red, and Coast Guard blue all thought to combine as a single color, purple.

Ways to Celebrate

• Wear Purple on Purple Up! Day
• Recognize military children and their families
• Fly your military flags at home
  • Residential Flagpole
  • Wall Mount Flagpole
• Share your activities and photos #purpleup

How it Started

Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger was responsible for establishing April as the Month of The Military Child in the mid 80’s, and the Department of Defense has honored his initiative ever since. Military support organizations use the month to recognize all military kids as we celebrate the courage and bravery of all the children for their marvelous service and huge sacrifices in the U.S and worldwide.

Since it started, there have been an increasing number of awareness campaigns aimed at recognizing the needs of military children in all areas, from coping with the deployment of parents to war zones to the education of military dependents at on-base Department of Defense Dependent School System (DoDDS) campuses around the globe. Today there are more resources than ever available to all military families and their children to help support needs of all kinds.