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.
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
• Announce and share details for Purple Up! for Military Kids Day on social media.  Here is a sample news article to get you started​​
• ​Host a Purple Up! for Military Kids Day parade
• Add MOMC 4-H Military Partnership logo to your email, social media, and hastags
• Post photos on social media of staff, 4-H groups, 4-H volunteers & others wearing purple
• Ask 4-H'ers to sign a banner appreciating military-connected children and youth; present it to an installation, guard or reserve office
• Have 4-H'ers make a purple treat to share
• Host a door decorating contest at schools or your office to support military kids; post photos of doors on social media and host a contest for the most likes
• Create a GooseChase Challenge to learn more about military connected kids and your community
• Provide announcements for schools to make recognizing military kids in your community
• Feature military kids and 4-H activities on social media​
• Recruit 4-H youth to share positive comments or thank you messages to military kids on social media

• Host a purple picnic in honor of military kids; ask 4-H'ers to serve as hosts for military-connected youth & serve purple foods, plan purple fun activities, etc.
• Add purple to a local fountain or water feature in town (with permission of course!) 
• Add purple spotlights to your outdoor signage or a local landmark
• Salute military-connected youth at 4-H activities (meetings, contests, local events)
• Add MoMC logo to outdoor signs; if your office doesn't have a sign, ask a local business to highlight
• Sponsor a local window painting event to celebrate military kids. 4-H youth can be artists and judges
• ​Add purple ribbons to 4-H pins and wear during the month of April
• Recognize military-connected 4-H'ers with a wall of honor in your office or public area
• Coordinate a 4-H military stories project with 4-H'ers and ask military kids / service members about their experiences as a military-connected family
• Connect with your partners to offer community wide support for military-kids
• Highlight military family 4-H alumni on social media​
• Add purple bows to trees in your community​

Share Your Project

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.