The Month of the Military Child is celebrated each April to honor the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of children in military families.

Overview

The Month of the Military Child recognizes the unique challenges and contributions of military children, who often face frequent relocations, parental deployments, and the need to adapt to new schools and communities. Established by Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1986, this observance highlights the strength and adaptability of over 1.6 million military children in the United States.

Significance

Military children play a vital role in supporting their families’ service to the nation. They demonstrate resilience, courage, and adaptability while navigating frequent moves, family separations, and the demands of military life. The observance encourages communities, schools, and organizations to recognize and celebrate these contributions.

Purple Up Day

A key tradition during the Month of the Military Child is Purple Up Day, which encourages everyone to wear purple as a symbol of unity across all military branches. Purple combines the colors of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Purple Up Day is typically celebrated on a designated day in April, such as April 11, 2025, or April 9 in other years, and is an opportunity for schools and communities to show support for military-connected youth. This year is April 16th