Carbon honors Month of the Military Child

There are 1.8 million children who have a family member serving in the United States military.

Many times, people forget that these youngsters put on a brave face in the absence of a parent who is deployed or training away from home.

To honor these children, Carbon County has named April as “The Month of the Military Child.”

Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard read the proclamation, which states, “This month has been set aside to recognize the sacrifices children and youths of our military personnel make because when the parents serve in the military, their kids also serve in the military.”

April 15 has been set aside specifically to remember these children through Purple Up Day.

“These children and youths are sources of pride and honor to us all,” the proclamation states. “It is fitting we take time to recognize their contributions, celebrate their spirit and let our men and women in uniform know while they are taking care of us, we are taking care of their children.”

On hand at the meeting to accept the proclamation were members of Weatherly American Legion Post 360’s auxiliary, who have set up a military child’s table in the window of the former John’s Community News store, located across the street from the Weatherly borough building on Wilbur Street.

“Pennsylvania has no military installation, so a lot of these children don’t have support systems, said Georgeann Herling, president of the auxiliary. “It’s up to us to take care of these children.”

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that he doesn’t think people realize just how many families in Carbon County are affected by this, putting a stress on the family members when their loved one is deployed.

“Unfortunately, in this world today we see more and more deployments of reserves and National Guard units because of lack of size of military units,” Nothstein said. “I applaud the American Legion auxiliary for taking on this program and working with the children who do not have one or more of their parents with them.”

Commissioners William O’Gurek and Thomas J. Gerhard thanked the auxiliary for helping the children of military families.

The county asks all residents to display a purple ribbon on their doors, porch railing and windows, as well as to wear purple on April 15 as a way to honor military children.