Photo By Staff Sgt. Yash Rojas | U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas Daack, 354th Mission Support Group commander, addresses a...... read more read more
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EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska. — In honor of the Month of the Military Child, Gov. Sean Parnell proclaimed, April 13, as "Purple Up! For Military Kids" and encouraged all Alaskans to show their support for the military child by wearing purple, which symbolizes all branches of the military.
Col. Thomas Daack, 354th Mission Support Group commander, addressed students during an assembly held at Crawford Elementary School where he emphasized the governor's notable mention of the strengths and sacrifices of military children and their families, who often endure long periods of separation when parents are deployed.
"Unfortunately, we don't have ribbons or badges we can give military kids, but you guys and girls play a big part in the success of your mom and dad," said Daack. "It's a pretty cool deal today to come thank you for what you all do. When [your parents] come home at night, when they come back from deployment, when they get done at work — they come home to see you all [and] see your bright, shining faces."
Daack acknowledged the sacrifices of the students, understanding many of them have experienced a mom or dad deploying, maybe even both parents leaving for months at a time.
"Who's had a mom or dad deploy - be gone for a couple days, couple of months?" said Daack. "Almost all of you."
One by one, children raised their hands and kept them high in the air as Daack asked them how they were affected by their parent's deployments. He was impressed at how many students still raised their hand when he asked if any had parents on five or more deployments.
"No one lives the life a military child does," said Candi Dierenfield, Alaska's Operation Military Kids program director. "It's definitely different. It has some extra challenges, but that's why they are so resilient. They just roll with it and go."
Dierenfield said this special day recognized the heroism and dedication of these distinguished individuals, who in their youth demonstrate a remarkable ability to brave through pressures associated with living in a military family.
Dierenfield said Fairbanks has always been very supportive of its military and by having one day set aside, especially for this area of Alaska where there are such large deployments coming in and out, we ensure the military children and their families know their community is behind them.
"For Month of the Military Child the past few years, every year, [the program has] just been getting bigger and bigger - more noticed and more celebrations across the nation," said Dierenfield. "The great thing about offering a program to support military kids is that it doesn't matter what your thoughts are on government, military, on the war or any of that - it's about the kids. And who can say no to supporting kids?"
The governor's proclamation recognized the unique challenges faced today by the children of military men and women and emphasized the need to support military children, helping them succeed in the absence of their parents.
"While our men and women in uniform take care of Alaska and our nation, we must help take care of their children as well," Daack said.
| Date Taken: | 04.13.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2012 13:59 |
| Story ID: | 87671 |
| Location: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Crawford Elementary School celebrates Alaska’s first “Purple Up!” day, by SSgt Yash Rojas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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