Many people don’t know how much strength it takes to be a military child and for that reason I am here to celebrate you in all of your splendor. Not many realize the day Mommy or Daddy swore into the military your life was forever changed and you too began a life of service. While your Parent’s stand watch, go through deployments, and serve our Nation you are stationed and re-stationed all over the world with no say and little notice. You leave behind your family and friends and are eager to making new ones. So, today I want to say THANK YOU!!!!

Thank you for showing tremendous courage and flexibility. Thank you for being able to adapt to new places, situations, and faces. Thank you for helping Mommy or Daddy take care of home while the other is out serving the country. Knowing Braden is always “so happy when Daddy comes home” is all the motivation his Dad needs to get his job done and get home to find his son waiting. Thank you for the going away/welcome home signs, the pictures, phone calls, and hugs and kisses you always have in store when the fleet makes it back home.

Although not every day is great; every moment spent with you is one to be treasured. As a military child you have the opportunity to create memories in multiple places and with multiple people. You live a life filled with diversity as you take in the cultures around you. You are wise beyond your years because of the things you have seen and possess skills not many others can have. Being a military child makes you a part of a unique group of people who have their own language and definition of family. Thank you for simply being you!

 Mommies and Daddies from all branches have nothing but great things to say about military kids: “A military child appreciates the ‘now’, has ‘family’ all over the world, knows that home can be anywhere, and understands how much love can be passed along in a single hug.” Kristina

“Something that makes the military child so special is how resilient they are. They may have to say goodbye to friends over the years but they also have the chance to explore new areas, experience different cultures, and master the art of first impressions.” Desiree

“The great things about military children is that innovators. They take the curve balls military life throws at their families and play an amazing game! They write blogs, learn languages and instruments, master alternative forms of communication. Most importantly they learn to embrace life and differences.” Regina

“Military children possess the most sincere hearts I have ever seen. The way they genuinely love and care for all people is something I wish I could see more of in others” Jasmine.

-HonestlyGina

No child stands so tall as when she stoops to pick a quarter out of a wad of gum melted into the asphalt. It’s what I thought as I watched my 5 year old daughter, Evelyn Knightly Duris, do just that on an early Spring afternoon in the parking lot of the Ballet studio. After losing her precious preparation time in the parking lot, we raced into the ballet studio to carry out the timeless ritual of stepping out of her every day shoes and slipping into ballerina slippers. It’s something any one who puts any time into ballet has gone through over and over. Rush, change, repeat. Rush, change, repeat. Something about this process combined with my 5 year old little girl fishing picket change off the pavement turned all my thoughts in the direction of how much this art of dance, called ballet, costs: ranging from 1,000-2,000 dollars a season. It all adds up and eats a hole in my “discretionary” income like a moth in an argyle wool cardigan factory. After enduring 7 deployments, her USMC Special Ops Daddy, died in the line of duty. My little ballerina turned inward and shy; she spun a cocoon around herself in which she felt the need to linger. The Our Military Kids grant gave my daughter hope and an amazing opportunity to continue in dance. She emerged from her cocoon as a graceful and strong social butterfly. Her diligent commitment and passion for ballet has afforded her an outlet for creative expression. She dreams of teaching ballet to all the other Gold Star children she meets at her military family retreats and she has already started teaching ballet to her friends in her preschool class on the playground. She is an extraordinary little soul with a heart of gold. As for the quarter that she stopped to pick up out of the wad of gum melted into the asphalt, it was deposited into her special piggy bank that holds coins she saves “to give to those children who don’t have any coins.” -Stephanie Duris