If you're wondering why we are asking that you wear purple for "Purple Up! for military kids" on Friday, April 12, read this written by Sally Kramas, Central Valley CSD Director of Human Resources. Mrs. Kramas speaks from her personal experience as a mother and the wife of a career soldier.
The Military Child
The Month of the Military Child has been celebrated since 1968, with the knowledge that service members don’t serve alone. Their children, while concerned for their parent’s wellbeing, contribute much to the service member’s mission. The wearing of purple is known by the military community to symbolize all services united. (Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, National Guard or Coast Guard).
As a retired military wife, I want to help you understand how hard life can be for the military child, whose parent is often deployed through the course of their life.
My oldest daughter was 11 years old when her dad was finally able to be home for her birthday, for the first time in her life. I remember graduating with my Master’s Degree while my two little children sat on my lap as I didn’t have anyone in the audience for them to sit with because their dad was deployed. They learn to take on life’s events with or without support. They learn to take every situation as it comes.
Military children often grow up far away from any extended family members. They have one parent who can go to their school performances, etc., but rarely do they have both. Milestones in their life are celebrated by the supporting parent who keeps the homefront running strong and smooth, in the absence of the service member. It is a hard way of life for these children, but they learn to be strong and capable in the midst of trying times.
I know serving in the military is a choice. I am grateful that someone makes this kind of choice, because it allows us to be protected by enemies near and far. However, I like to honor the sacrifices children across this great country have made in an effort for their parent to serve. They carry a heavy burden that all too often goes unrecognized. I am deeply grateful to my three children who, without a single complaint, grew up knowing that their dad so loved our country that in many ways, they were asked to serve as well.
The following poem uses the word ‘he’. There are many women in the services, but this poem was obviously written by someone whose dad was the service member. It is a touching reflection of a child whose parent served in the military.
I Serve Too
He puts on his flight suit,
He puts on his combat boots,
He puts on his dog tags,
He puts on his hat,
He packs his duffel bag and says goodbye.
I may not wear the uniform, but
I serve too.
He missed my music program,
He missed my birthday,
He missed Christmas,
He missed my soccer games and swim meets,
He missed our family vacation,
He missed my achievements,
He is gone when I need him most.
I may not wear the uniform, but
I serve too.
I let him go for your freedom of speech,
I let him go for your right to vote,
I let him go for your right to be free,
I let him go knowing he might not come home.
I may not wear the uniform, but
I serve too.
I see the flag and I feel reverence,
I hear the anthem and I try to be brave,
I hope for the day I can embrace my hero,
I may not wear the uniform, but
I serve too.
—Maren Kalberer
Facts about military families
There are 1.6 million military connected children. Over 523,000 are school aged (6-18)
Over 2 million U.S. children have a parent who served in Iraq or Afghanistan
The average military family moves every 2-3 years
Deployments typically last one year
Sometimes, both military parents get deployed at the same time
The average military child will change schools 6-9 times
Military children are twice as likely to join the military as civilian children
These are some of the reasons we wear purple during April as we celebrate the Month of the Military Child.