On Monday, April 15, Indiana citizens wore purple throughout the day to honor U.S. military children who make sacrifices every day on behalf of this nation and the world.
"The color purple represents all branches of the Armed Forces, and we encouraged everyone to 'Purple Up' to show their support for military children," said Christy Flynn, outreach specialist for the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University. "April was Month of the Military Child, and by wearing purple, we reminded ourselves and others that these kids are the unsung heroes and heroines in our midst."
Month of the Military Child is coordinated by Operation: Military Kids (OMK), the U.S. Army's collaborative effort with America's communities to support youth impacted by deployment. Of the 1.7 million military youth, more than 900,000 have experienced the deployment of one or both parents, according to the Department of Defense.
More than 21,000 military children reside in Indiana, according to Ryan Wynkoop, who is the special projects coordinator of Purdue’s Youth wwwelopment and Agricultural Education. At least 40 Indiana cities issued proclamations acknowledging the event, and a number of other Hoosier organizations took part in celebratory activities, including the Indiana Pacers.
Efforts to promote Month of the Military Child were strongly supported by the Indiana National Guard (INNG). Indiana continues to demonstrate a strong sense of patriotism and support to both the state and nation through times of deployment, said Lt. Col. Marcus Thomas, director of the Indiana National Guard’s Family Program.
"As the sixth largest National Guard state in the country, it is our duty to honor all who dedicate their time and support to our troops," said Thomas. "Our military youth persevere through struggles of having a deployed parent while showing unconditional support."
In addition to the INNG, Purdue's Department of Youth wwwelopment and Agricultural Education and MFRI, the Indiana OMK State Team includes representatives from American Legion &Auxiliary, American Red Cross, Army Reserve Child, Youth & School Services, Boys & Girls Clubs, , Indiana Association for Child Care, Resource & Referral, Indiana National Guard Family Programs, , Indiana 4-H Youth wwwelopment and Purdue Extension.
To learn more visit Operation: Military Kids.