April is the Month of the Military Child (MOMC). It is a time as a nation to pause, to say thank to our youngest military members, the youth. Military children serve our country by the sacrifices they experience from their parent(s) service. For the month of April, we challenge you to take a moment and reflect on the impact a military child has had on your life. This can be completed personally or conducted professionally as an office.
Further, throughout April, please join the celebration by promoting Month of the Military Child on social media and Purple Up Day. There are lots of ways you can recognize military children and celebrate MOMC. The Georgia 4-H Military Partnership has created resources to support staff and families in highlighting MOMC. Resources include social media posts, a flyer, newspaper article template, and activity ideas.
Social Media Action Plan- Below is a suggested timeline for posting social media posts. You can also consider sharing a post once a day within one week. FB post graphics are included at the end of this post, but if you are in need of Instagram graphics I have those versions available (email laurwalt@uga.edu).
April 1- Update Cover Photo to highlight the MOMC. Cover photo design is included in toolkit.
April 1- Social Media Post 1 and include #MOMC in post
April 8- Social Media Post 2 and include #MOMC in post
April 14-Social Media Post to remind youth to wear purple tomorrow
April 15- Social Media Post Purple Up Day and include #MOMC in post
April 22- Social Media Post 3 and include #MOMC in post
April 29-Social Media Post 4 and include #MOMC in post
April 30-Social Media Post 5 and include #MOMC in post
Purple Up Day- Suggested date is April 15th. Purple Up Day is used as a day to hold programs and events in honor of military children. Wearing purple is a visible way to show support and thank military youth for their strength and sacrifices. Why purple? Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Marine Red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue. The goal of “Purple Up!” is for military youth to actually see the support in their school, youth groups, and the community!
Purple Up Day can be held any day in April to meet the needs of your community and schools. Nationally, Purple Up Day is celebrated on 15 April. Included in the marketing kit are 2 social media posts for Purple Up Day and 1 flyer. If you need to make edits to the flyer design or social media posts for a different date email laurwalt@uga.edu.
Newspaper Article: Located in the toolkit staff will find a newspaper article about the Month of the Military Child. Please use the template for your needs.
Promoting Month of the Military Child in Schools: Below are suggested ideas on ways to celebrate within schools. However, I have also created a document that you can provide to teachers via email or in person. To support your communication with partners I included an email template.
Art Contest: One new way in 2021 to celebrate MOMC statewide is to promote the MOMC Art Contest. Youth of all ages can submit a picture of artwork that represents military children. Details are included in the toolkit.
Other Ways to Celebrate:
- Have youth wear purple to club meetings during April
- Schedule a county-wide Purple Up Day, typically this is celebrated on April 15th; however, it can be adjusted to fit county needs
- If you have an installation within your county work with partners to set a date and release information collaboratively
- Create informative flyers/posters to post in the school that highlight military youth
- Promote an in-school Art Contest that highlights military youth. Guidelines and submission link included in the Art Contest Qualtrics QR Link found on the flyer.
- Promote an in-school writing assignment for the school or with 5th-grade members.
- Writing topic suggestions could include-
- Non-military kids
- If I met a military kid, I would ask…
- What are some positives and negative experiences a military kid might experience?
- Do you think it would be hard to be a military kid?
- How could you say thank you to a military child and why would you say thank you?
- Military Kids
- Do you agree/disagree that there are positives to being a military kid?
- How would you summarize the life of being a military kid?
- If you had to explain what it means to be a military child to someone else what three things would you share and why?
- Non-military kids
- Writing topic suggestions could include-
