MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- The Child Development Center at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany honored their smallest Marine Corps family members with a parade, led by members of the Albany Marine Band’s Brass Call, through Buildings 3500 and 3700, April 1.
According to the Web site www.defense.gov, there are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18 with a parent serving in the military and approximately 900,000 with one or both parents deployed multiple times.
The Month of the Military Child is an opportunity to recognize military children and youth for their heroism, character, courage, sacrifices and continued resilience.
Dorothy Bryant, director, CDC, Marine Corps Community Services, MCLB Albany, said, “We are here to celebrate the month of the military child, underscoring the important role of military children in the armed forces community. This is a time to applaud military families for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.”
Bryant said military children endure a great deal of changes as a result of their parents’ military career.
“At CDC, we are honoring military children by providing a month packed with special activities. Upon returning to the center today,
the children will continue to celebrate with bouncers, slides, swings and lots of other fun activities and snacks. Our families are the best,” Bryant said.
Paula Caserio, director, Marine Corps Family Team Building, MCCS, said, “We have been holding this event here for more than 20 years. This recognition is held every April to honor the special contributions that our military children give to the Marine Corps and the mission readiness of this base every day.”
Caserio said the month of the military child celebration will consist of activities such as picnics, art displays and other events all month long to provide opportunities for the families to get together and bond with their children and meet other families.
“This is our way of letting them know they are special and this celebration also brings attention to the fact that the children serve too. We want to provide unconditional support and rally the community to recognize and honor our military and civilian military children,” she said. “We thank our children for what they bring to us and it is a great opportunity for us to be involved in their lives as teachers, educators and family members.”
In 1986, former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger designated April as Month of the Military Child, a time when each branch of the military service recognizes the sacrifices made by the children of parents who are serving our country.
Dick French, director, MCCS, said, “This event honors the military children and is held every April. We decided to do something a little different this year by having the Brass Call lead the parade through the two buildings.
“This was done because some of the children have family members that work in them and it is great to see the adults come out of their offices to greet the children. I can tell you, the children really enjoy this,” he said.