Honoring Month of the Military Child through service and leadership

Edmond Lopez, VLP Class of 2024 

The strongest color in the military isn’t camo…. It’s purple. 

Each April, we honor a group that often goes unnoticed: the children connected to our nation’s service members. The Month of the Military Child is a time to recognize the strength, adaptability, and quiet resilience of these young individuals who carry the weight of service in deeply personal ways. 

We often picture a military child as the son or daughter of someone in uniform, but the reality is broader. Many service members aren’t parents, yet they’re still central figures in a child’s life. They’re uncles, aunts, older siblings, cousins, and mentors. And when they’re called to serve, those children feel the absence. They miss out on moments that matter: cheer competitions, hockey games, school plays, weekend visits, shared holidays, and the kind of connection that helps shape who they are. 

These kids learn to adapt early. They understand goodbyes more than most. They know what it means to wait, and wonder. Their resilience is admirable, but it also highlights their need for support.

Military children didn’t raise their hand to take an oath, nor did they choose a partner who did. Yet they carry the echoes of service with them every day. And it’s our responsibility to make sure they’re seen, valued, and celebrated.

That’s why investing in them matters. Whether through mentorship, community programs, emotional support, or simply showing up, our actions help create the moments they may have missed. That impact ripples far beyond the home; it shapes future leaders, strengthens families, and honors the full scope of military service. 

Purple is the color of the Month of the Military Child because it combines the colors of all military branches: Army green, Marine red, Navy and Air Force blue, Coast Guard blue, and even Space Force gray. It symbolizes unity and shared sacrifice. And, ironically, I didn’t learn that from my time in uniform. I learned it from my daughter, who explained it to me in a way I’ll never forget. 

So, this April, don’t just wear purple. Act in purple. Support the military children in your community, past or present, and celebrate them. A special thanks to my nephews, nieces, and cousins who endured my deployments and missed having me at their important moments. And to my own children, who’ve given up more than they should have, I see you, and I’m showing up now, fully. 

Happy Purple Month to all military children, past and present. You serve, too. 

John Cogbill, PLS Class of 2015: 

I have had the privilege to serve our nation for almost 31 years as a career Army officer. During that time, I have deployed to Haiti, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan multiple times, and most recently to Germany with the XVIII ABN Corps for Operation European Assure, Deter, and Reinforce to assist the Ukrainians and defend NATO’s eastern flank. Throughout all the deployments, weeks of training, and multiple military moves, I have never served alone; I have been supported by my wife, Jenny, and our three amazing military children: Jack, Emma, and Madeline.  

Military children embody remarkable grit and resilience, adapting to frequent moves, new schools, new friends, and the emotional toll of having a parent deployed.

They learn to say goodbye too often and make new friends quickly. Like dandelions, the official symbol of Month of the Military Child, military children grow wherever the wind carries them, blooming in unfamiliar soil, standing tall through storms, and spreading their roots in even the most unpredictable places. My family knows this all too well.  

Our family has moved 18 times, and our children have attended nine different schools since kindergarten, including one child that attended three different high schools. Like most military children, they didn’t just survive; they thrived. They drew strength from their mother, who coached them through transitions, comforted them when they were missing old friends, and counseled them – and their teachers when necessary – on how to seamlessly integrate academic requirements between all of the different school districts. She did all this while packing and unpacking all our belongings, finding new jobs at every duty station, and still finding time to earn a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University.  

 All three of our children have taken her example, along with the values that surround our Army community – values such as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage, and have been successful in their personal endeavors. Our son just graduated from Harvard in May, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry, and recently completed Airborne and Ranger School. Our middle daughter is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was accepted into an honors program this summer where she will be an intern for the Manchester City Football Club. Our youngest daughter is a junior in high school, a varsity cheerleader, and volunteers as a camp counselor for children with special needs.  

Needless to say, I’m incredibly proud of my family and military children everywhere. As we approach the end of the Month of the Military Child, please remember that when you thank a veteran for his or her service to thank the children that serve alongside them. Army Strong! 

Chris Mulder, VLP Class of 2021: 

I appreciate the Department of Defense’s recognition of the unique challenges military kids face by designating April as Month of the Military Child. It is especially meaningful, because I was born into a military family. In fact, I was born at the United States Air Force Academy during one of my father’s first assignments. My parents continued to serve for another 14 years until retirement. I returned to the Air Force Academy as a cadet and have continued on my own active duty Air Force path since then. During that time, my wife and I started our own family, exposing our three children to deployments, multiple moves across the globe, new schools, and new opportunities.  

Having been a military child and experiencing firsthand some of the challenges, I can empathize and arguably help equip my own children on their journey. For example, when my family moved to Clark Air Base in the Philippines back in the 1980s, I had to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. It was difficult, but those three years in the Philippines provided a formative experience that has benefited me as an adult.

Despite the disruption and instability military service can introduce in a family, my wife and I try to impart the value of the unique experiences inherent in military service –exposure to different languages, cultures, and food; concepts of resiliency and adaptability; and the importance of family.

I do not know whether our own children will enter the family business, but my hope is that they will appreciate military service and serve their nation or community in their own way, whatever that may look like.  

Kelcey Liverpool, PLS Class of 2023: 

April is Month of the Military Child and one of my favorite times of the year. As a military spouse, moving with my family a total of nine times and volunteering in several roles at various military installation agencies, I understand first-hand the challenges that are faced by children and families of service members. I felt it was important to focus on the whole child recognizing both their strengths and challenges. Thirteen years ago, I founded Kids Rank, the only organization providing comprehensive peer-to-peer programming specifically designed for military-connected children facing unique challenges of frequent relocations, deployments, and social isolation. Through our social and emotional evidence-based approach centered on connection, leadership, and community service, we create safe spaces where military children find belonging. 

Being part of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program helped me define this concept more clearly as HOME. I’ve found striking parallels between my work and the PLS program, most notably, the beautifully diverse PLS cohort I am proud to be a part of.  

This month, our Eighth Annual Kids Rank Ball themed “HOME: A Family Portrait” brought together over 230 military and civilian community members, with children comprising more than half our guests. Watching these amazing kids – who often feel like outsiders – celebrate hard and confidently interact with peers who understand their unique experiences reinforces why this work matters so deeply. We toasted, ate, danced, and explored how family – both the one you’re born into and the one you choose – can become that feeling of home when a permanent physical location can be ever-changing. I’m grateful for having Kids Rank be the work that I get to do every day and grateful for my PLS family who will now forever be a piece of HOME.  

If you are a military child, please reach out to us as we are creating a powerful generational project highlighting the stories of military children: https://www.kidsrank.org/ 

Michelle Richart, PLS Class of 2022: 

April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to celebrate the sacrifices and strength of military kids.

These incredible young people face unique challenges, including frequent moves and parental deployments requiring constant adaptation to new schools and communities.

As a 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar and a parent of two military-connected children, this work is deeply personal.  

I am honored to work as a Regional Liaison for the United States Department of Defense-State Liaison Office, managing state government relations and supporting military children and families across six states. My work focuses on improving state policies that directly impact the lives of these children – children like my own. This includes advocating for better educational experiences, such as advanced enrollment options, special education resources, open enrollment policies, and the expansion of the Purple Star Schools program, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military students and their families.  

My experience in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program propelled me to advocate in this space and even allowed me to connect with another Scholar working in education within my region, a partnership that has significantly helped progress education initiatives in one of my states. During the 2025 legislative session, and on behalf of the Department of Defense, I was able to raise more than 30 state policies impacting these critical issues in my region. 

Working across six states as the sole liaison, I see firsthand the impact these policies have on military families. Beyond education, I also address critical issues such as access to quality child care, navigating the complexities of the juvenile justice system, and improving access to resources for victims of child abuse within military communities. I am proud to be part of the Presidential Leadership Scholars network and contribute to this important work, ensuring that military children receive the support and resources they deserve. 

Learn more about policies supporting military children and their families by visiting https://statepolicy.militaryonesource.mil/. 

Stephanie Rundle, VLP Class of 2024: 

April is a significant month for military families, recognized as the Month of the Military Child. This time serves as a reminder of the unique challenges faced by children in military families, particularly when it comes to their education. As an Educational Consultant and the Founder of The Continuing Education Plan, I’m dedicated to addressing these challenges.  

As a parent of three military-connected children, I understand firsthand the impact constant uprooting has on educational stability. Each move can disrupt a child’s academic foundation.

The Continuing Education Plan was developed during my time as a George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Scholar to empower parents with the tools they need to collaborate effectively with teachers to document their students’ academic skill progression. This documentation provides continuity throughout their children’s academic journey, despite the frequent relocations that define military life. 

The Continuing Education Plan emphasizes the importance of focusing on educational continuity. Our approach is built around what I identify as the Five Pillars of Impact on Education: Community, School Culture, Scope and Sequence of Instruction, Curriculum, and Assessment. By defining the nuances of each pillar, we equip parents and teachers with the knowledge to support students effectively, especially during what Dr. Mary Keller, one of the founders of the Military Child Education Coalition, referred to as “the fragile first two weeks” of a new school transition.  

My work supports this critical period, making it essential for parents and teachers to work together to create a supportive and nurturing educational transition for military-connected students so that they’re able to thrive. 

Jessica Saum, PLS Class of 2023:  

April, the Month of the Military Child, is an especially meaningful time for me. It’s a period dedicated to recognizing the resilience and sacrifices of young people who navigate the unique circumstances of military life. While it is an important time to celebrate them, it is also a critical time to recognize the challenges they face, and the support needed from schools, policymakers, and military installations. I am encouraged by the many individuals across the state and nation who are actively working to understand and support these students. This month and recognition are critical in continuing to bring awareness to their experiences and highlight the importance of community and educational support in helping military children thrive. 

As the 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, I focused my platform on raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by students from military families, who often experience frequent moves and family separations. That included traveling across the state to connect schools and families with available resources. Having seen the significant challenges military families face – from repeated separations, as my own children experienced, to difficult decisions impacting education and careers – I am deeply committed to enhancing their opportunities and outcomes. 

The Special Education Inclusion Coordinator at the Cabot Public School District in Arkansas, I became a 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar and focused my personal leadership project on improving access for military families to protections and provisions available to school-age children through the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission. After my time in PLS, I was appointed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders to the Arkansas Council for Military Children, where I have been able to continue to advocate for this community.  In 2025, I was named the Five and Thrive Ambassador of Education and continue to work to improve the quality of life and educational outcomes for military families.  

I also wrote a children’s book, based on my own daughter and the Month of the Military Child, called Maggie and the Purple Up Parade. I hope it sheds light on this month and some of the challenges my students face when a parent is deployed during a celebration.  

Quiana Abner, VLP Class of 2023 

Our kids were without their dad being home every day for 15 years of his career, when he was launching and recovering aircraft aboard our nation’s aircraft carriers. There were times when I thought our children would certainly never choose such a life for themselves. Our son wanted to fly airplanes and serve in the Armed Forces since the age of 7 and achieved both by the ages of 15 and 18. All three of our children chose the ROTC path (Coast Guard, Army, and Air Force) in high school. The two eldest chose to take it a step further and serve our country. We are so incredibly proud of them! I owe their pride of service to my husband, Melvin. No matter how difficult his journey was, he always found the brightness of it all.  

My husband – who wrapped up 30 years of obligated service in December 2024 as a U.S. Navy Senior Chief – and I always encouraged our children to choose what was best for them. Military training, in tandem with our rearing, instilled strong values in our children. I have full faith in their growth in service. They have already shown tremendous respect for the uniform and those who have honorably served before them. Our children are examples of true leadership. Their dad’s, grandfathers’, and uncles’ time to serve our country has come and gone. Our children are now in line to serve, extending a lineage of selfless humans.  

When my husband retired, we reminisced about the years he served and the sea stories that made him grateful to wear the uniform. We asked the kids about their memories as well, which included reflecting on the many hours of United Through Reading VHS tapes, preparing for the long-awaited reunions after a six- to 10-month deployment every year for more than half of their lives, and our son’s voyage back home during the last week of his dad’s deployment as part of the ship’s Tiger Cruise – a Navy program that allows family members to accompany a ship during a sea voyage. Those were moments of joy in a stressful, ever-changing period for the kids. 

This generation of veterans and military spouses must be given our trust and support. I honor all of those of this generation who choose to serve. We are now the advisors, and we must honor their contributions. If my kids’ experiences are of any consolation, I, for one, am more than proud that two of my favorite humans, firm in their being, now have the watch. Thank you, my loves.