The History of Purple Up Day: Celebrating Military Kids! 

Every April, we come together to celebrate some of the strongest, most resilient kids in the world—military children! 🌎💪 These amazing kids grow up in unique circumstances, often moving from place to place, saying "see you later" to friends, and waiting patiently while their parents serve their country. To honor their sacrifices and show them some extra love, we celebrate Purple Up Day! 💜🎉

How It All Started 📖

Purple Up Day is part of Month of the Military Child (MOMC), which was established in 1986 by the Department of Defense. The goal? To recognize and appreciate military children for their strength, resilience, and sacrifices. 👏🏾💜 Military kids may not wear a uniform, but they serve in their own way by supporting their parents, adapting to new environments, and being the true backbone of their families.

Over time, people wanted to find a special way to honor these kids, and thus, Purple Up Day was born! 💜🎈 Schools, communities, and organizations across the country started encouraging people to wear purple to show support for military children. But why purple? 🤔

Why Purple? The Meaning Behind the Color 🎨

The color purple is extra special because it represents ALL branches of the military! 🇺🇸

🔵 Air Force blue
🔴 Marine red
⚓ Navy blue
🟢 Army green
🟣 Coast Guard blue

When you mix them all together, you get purple! 💜✨ It’s a beautiful symbol of unity, showing that no matter which branch a military child’s parent serves in, they are all part of one big, supportive community.

How We Celebrate Today 🎊

Every year, on a selected day in April, people across the country come together to "Purple Up!" 💜 Schools, workplaces, and entire communities dress in purple to honor military kids and remind them they are seen, loved, and appreciated.

Ways people celebrate include:
🎨 Making posters and banners with messages of support
🏫 Schools hosting special assemblies or activities
🎁 Giving military kids little surprises to brighten their day
💜 Encouraging everyone to wear purple—teachers, students, coworkers, even pets! 🐶🐾

Social media is also a big part of Purple Up Day! 📱💜 People post selfies in purple with hashtags like #PurpleUp #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild #MOMC to spread awareness and love.

Why It Matters ❤️

Being a military kid isn’t always easy. Imagine moving every few years, making new friends all the time, and having to say goodbye to a parent who is deployed. 😢 But military kids are tough, adaptable, and full of heart. 💜 Purple Up Day is a chance for the world to say, “We see you. We support you. We are so proud of you!” 🎖️💜

So, when April rolls around, don’t forget to wear your purple, give a high-five to a military kid, and spread the love! 💜🙌🎉