April is the "Month of the Military Child"

RALEIGH, NC (03/28/2011)(readMedia)-- Gov. Beverly Perdue has proclaimed April the "Month of the Military Child" in North Carolina to honor the children of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and those of all members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The proclamation recognizes all military children and youth for their heroism, character, courage and sacrifice.

The proclamation reinforces North Carolina's reputation as the most military-friendly state in the nation and coincides with the national month of the military child. Then Secretary of Defense Casper W. Weinberger began the tradition in 1986 to call attention to the roles children play in the lives of service members. Children growing up in military families often endure frequent moves and long separations from one, and sometimes both, parents, which makes for a challenging family environment. The resilience of military children make it possible for their parents to serve.

As part of the month-long recognition, military parents can visit the North Carolina National Guard Family Programs web page at http://www.nc.ngb.army.mil/index.php/fp/momc/ to download a "Military Child Appreciation Award" certificate. There, they will find a link to the Family Programs Facebook page where parents can upload pictures and publicly recognize their kids.

Child care professionals, teachers, community partners and business leaders are invited to visit a National Guard Family Programs center in their area for a Military Veteran Partnership meeting. North Carolina Military Veteran Partnerships create a network of experts who share knowledge and experience for use in solving the everyday challenges service members and families face.

Those interested in finding a "Month of the Military Child" event can call their nearest Family Assistance Center. A listing is posted to the Family Programs web site as well as a calendar of upcoming events.

Family Assistance Centers are a military resource support center that is designed to help support service members of the Guard and Reserve and their families with benefits and services they are eligible to receive.

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EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: For queries, contact North Carolina National Guard

Director of Family Programs Diane Coffill at 919-664-6324 or the Public Affairs Office at pao@ng.army.mil or by phone at 919-664-6242. Visit www.nc.ngb.army.mil/ for news, and become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/NCnationalguard or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NCnationalguard. To view additional pictures from North Carolina National Guard events, visit www.flickr.com/photos/ncngpao.