The American Legion Auxiliary celebrates the Month of the Military Child during April. Purple Up! Day is our opportunity to say “we see you” to the children who deal with frequent moves, new schools and the long months waiting for a parent to return from deployment.
Purple has been chosen because it represents all branches of the military. It is a combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine Corps red and Navy blue. In wearing purple, we show that we support the entire military family, regardless of the uniform their parent wears.
Alliance American Legion Unit 7 recommends that youth organizations use the following ceremony sometime during April.
The Military Child’s Table Setting Ceremony is a unique program to honor the sacrifices of a military child’s friends and classmates. The ceremony is inspired by the POW/MIA remembrance table ceremony. Our military answer the call to service every day as they defend freedom around the world. That service often comes at a great personal sacrifice, not only for the service member, but also for their children.
The nontraditional place setting of the Military Child’s Table Setting Ceremony includes:
*A potted flowering plant symbolizing that a military child may flower and flourish where they are planted
*A hand spade recognizes that they may be transplanted to a new place in the world at a moment’s notice.
*A birthday hat and unlit candles, along with the baseball and glove, and ballet slippers represent special occasions that are missed.
*A family photo depicting a child with his/her uniformed parent demonstrates our country’s strength.
*The final touch to the table setting is the American flag to remind us that families are united in their commitment to national service, at home or away.