News

April highlights sacrifices of military children, families

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Hubby
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  April is the Month of the Military Child. Every year the Department of Defense seeks to highlight the importance of military children and their impact on the mission.

Established by Caspar Weinberger, former Secretary of Defense (1981-1987), the Month of the Military Child recognizes the role children play in the military community. There are approximately 1.9 million military children; 1.3 million of them are of school age. Since 2001, more than 700,000 children have experienced the deployment of at least one parent, according to the Department of Defense.

Dover Air Force Base, Del., is no exception - the Youth Center and Family Advocacy looked to highlight and honor Team Dover's youngest warriors with the Fifth Annual Walk for Children and the Month of the Military Child and Child Abuse Prevention Carnival April 21 at the base. The events offered many different activities for the children and their parents to partake in, such as face painting, games and informational booths for parents.

"This was a day to say 'thank you' to our youngest warriors," said Roxanne Lee, the Youth Center's recreation specialist with the 436th Force Support Squadron. "It is important to make the kids feel special. The carnival is always a success because everyone is there to have fun, from the kids to the parents and staff."

While the focus was on having fun - the walk and the carnival both acted as forums for parents to receive information about child abuse.

"Compared to the civilian community, military families tend to have less instances of child abuse or neglect," said 1st Lt. Tom Sandoz, the family advocacy officer with the 436th Medical Operations Squadron. "The military - the Air Force specifically - fosters a very close-knit culture that stresses the importance of our children. By helping members of our communities learn more about these issues, we further the well-being of the Air Force as a whole."

While there are no further activities planned for Month of the Military Child, the family advocate is looking to expand the walk next year.

"I'd really like to expand the walk into something bigger. It grows every year thanks the people who work on it and their dedication to the kids. They always do great work," said Sandoz.