April is Month of the Military Child! This special celebration is a legacy of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger – established to underscore the important role children play in the Armed Forces community. Army Garrisons plan numerous events ranging from picnics and parades to recreational fairs and fun festivals – all to recognize and applaud Families and their children, who are everyday heroes, for the daily sacrifices for they make in supporting America’s Army.
Month of the Military Child gives the nation the opportunity to recognize the character, strength and sacrifices of America's military children as well as the role they play in the armed forces community. Today, there are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18-years-old with a parent serving in the military and approximately 900,000 children and youth with one or both parents deployed multiple times.
Military children often face additional stress related to deployments and time spent with a parent away from home. They are continually amazing, as they rise to the challenges of military life. It’s a life of frequent moves, changing schools, leaving friends and making new friends. During April, the Month of the Military Child, applaud their character and maturity, and acknowledge that kids serve, too. Additional support is often needed to ensure that children receive the guidance and direction they need.
Established in 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF) provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships for higher education to deserving sons and daughters of Marines and children of former Marines, with particular attention being given to children whose parent was killed or wounded in action. MCSF is proud of their long history and commitment: Since 1962, they have awarded more than 22,500 scholarships and bonds totaling more than $39.2 million, including $4.55 million to 1,393 scholarship recipients in 2008.25,000+ scholarships valued at more than $60 million have been given to deserving students, including more than 1,400 for the 2010-2011 academic year. Today, the Scholarship Foundation has never been more relevant. The ever-increasing cost of a post-high school education has significantly outpaced the salary earned by military service members creating a real need for higher education financial assistance for the children of America's Marines. These families have endured frequent, destabilizing moves, modest incomes and, in some cases, the disability or loss of a parent. They should not have to bear the burden of not knowing how they will afford post-high school educations for their children.
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To support the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, please visit: http://mcsf.org
Thank you for posting this. I have been associated with the Armed Forces in one way or another since 1999, and this is the very first year that I have heard April was the Month of the Military Child. As a MilSpouse and a mom to a MilKid, I am appalled that I have not known about this much sooner. Not much is shared within the ranks, so not much is done for these resiliant kids. Thank you for helping to get the word out! :)
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