Celebrate the Month of the Military Child
Purple Up! for Military Kids Day


​Purple Up! for Military Kids Day began in 2011 when  New Hampshire Extension created a way to recognize military- connected children and youth. People are encouraged to wear purple to show their support for military-connected youth and teens. Purple is known as "the services color" as it represents the combination of colors from all service branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Each community picks its own date to celbrate Purple Up! for Military Kids Day. Many Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools offer a week of special activities and installations have many scheduled celebrations throughout the month. 
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Join your community's Purple Up! for Military Kids Day and find ways to clebrate miltary youth!  
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When posting on social media, use the hashtags:          #4-HMilitaryPartnership, #MOMC2026, #PurpleUp!forMilitaryKidsDay, #PurpleUp!

Additional Ideas to Celebrate the
​Month of the Military Child

  • Wear purple to support military-connected children and youth on Purple Up! for Military Kids Day.
  • Share details for Purple Up! for Military Kids Day on social media. Use this sample news article to get started.​​
  • ​Host a Purple Up! for Military Kids Day parade.
  • Add MOMC 4-H Military Partnership logo to your email signature block, social media pages, and websites.
  • Post photos on social media of your team wearing purple.
  • Create a banner appreciating military-connected youth and have the community sign. Present the signed banner to a military installation, guard or reserve office.
  • Bake purple-inspired treats to share.
  • Host a door decorating contest at schools or offices to support military youth. Post photos of decorated doors on social media - the most likes win a prize!
  • Create a GooseChase scavenger hunt challenge to learn more about military programs in your community.
  • Provide MoMC announcements for schools to make recognizing military youth in your community.
  • Feature military kids and 4-H activities on social media. 
  • Start a Purple Up! for Military Kids Spirit Day.
  • Paint rocks with encouraging notes for military youth.
  • Host a purple picnic in honor of military youth. 4-H youth can host and serve purple treats, plan purple activities, and more. 
  • Add purple to a local fountain or water feature in town - with permission of course!
  • Add purple spotlights to outdoor signs or local landmark.
  • Salute military-connected youth at 4-H activities.
  • Add MoMC logo to outdoor signs. Ask local business' to post in their windows too.
  • Sponsor a local window painting contest to celebrate military youth. 
  • ​Add purple ribbons to 4-H pins and wear in April.
  • Establish a Wall of Honor to recognize military-connected 4-H youth in a public area.
  • Coordinate a "military story" 4-H project and ask military youth & service members about being a military family.
  • ​Highlight military family 4-H alumni on social media​.
  • Add purple bows to trees in your community.​
  • Recruit 4-H youth to share positive comments or write thank you notes to military youth.
  • Create a Purple Pride photo wall to celebrate military youth.

Share Your Month of th Military Child Projects

Share your MOMC celebrations and activites. We will post activities and events on social media and our webpage. Please complete the short survey to have your activity included.  If you have an event you'd like to advertise for participation, considering adding it to our calendar or sharing in our Facebook group.
 "This work is supported by the Children, Youth and Families at Risk 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development and Technical Assistance Program, project award no. 2022-41520-38161, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture."