MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed a letter Friday recognizing April 2019 as the Month of the Military Child, and April 18 as "Purple Up Day" to support military children.
The letter reads:
April 5, 2019
Dear Friends:
I am delighted to recognize April 2019 as the "Month of the Military Child" and April 18th as "Purple Up Day," a day to wear purple in support of military kids.
Montana has a long and honorable tradition of military service, and Montanans serve at one of the highest rates per capita in the nation. More than 91,338 veterans live in Montana, including 7,770 female veterans. Montana also has over 8,621 service members, spread throughout every county, who make sacrifices every day to protect the wellbeing of our state and our nation.
The Month of the Military Child gives us an opportunity to celebrate the resilient children for what they are--heroes. There are 6,247 military children in our state, and all of them must manage difficult, stressful circumstances and worry about the safety of their deployed parent as they watch the often-frightening news from a faraway battlefield. These young heroes need the support of their extended families, peers, and communities to grow into strong and independent young men and women who will be the leaders we depend on in the future.
I commend the efforts of the National Guard Child and Youth Program and Malmstrom Child and Youth Program to ensure that our military children, who live in every corner of the state, are afforded local community support. I also want to thank the numerous other groups, organizations, and individuals that support Montana's military kids.
I encourage Montanans to support and thank our military families every day of the year, and especially throughout April 2019 during the "Month of the Military Child." Make sure to wear purple on April 18th in support of military kids -- the heroes of the future.
Sincerely,
STEVE BULLOCK
Governor