Military children honored in April
By Staff Reports
Published in News on April 26, 2009 2:00 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
U.S. Army retired Maj. James M. Pate, who served in Vietnam with the 173rd Air Brigade and as Company Commander in Desert Storm, is seen with his daughter Jessica Pate and grandson Ethan Zills, 7, during a Month of the Military Child ceremony at Northwest Elementary School on April 21.
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child by the United States Department of Defense, as a way of emphasizing the important role military children play in the armed forces community.
The month has been a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and challenges they overcome. A typical military family averages nine moves through a 20-year career, creating many unique obstacles for children who are frequently uprooted from school and have a parent deployed for extended periods.
Throughout the month, military commands across the country have held special events to honor military children, such as arts and crafts shows, picnics, carnivals, fairs, parades, block parties and other special activities.
The Defense Department also has launched a new tool kit series called Military Students on the Move, that includes material designed to promote more efficient and effective methods of moving military children from school to school. In addition, the Air Force recently launched its Stay Connected deployment program kits that include items like teddy bears, writing pens and disposable cameras.