K 279: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2025, as the Month of the Military Child in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 279 BY: M. of A. Hunter MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2025, as the Month of the Military Child in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those young people within the great Empire State who have made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role models for their peers; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concerns and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2025, as the Month of the Military Child in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of Purple Up Day on Tuesday, April 15, 2025; and WHEREAS, New York State is home to three active duty Army installations, Fort Drum Army Base, U.S. Military Academy Army Base at West Point and Fort Hamilton Army Base; housing the 10th Mountain Division, nearly 20,000 soldiers call Fort Drum home; and WHEREAS, In addition, there are over 15,000 geographical dispensed National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and nearly 44,000 military children living in New York, not on military installations; and WHEREAS, Military children make up a very special part of our nation's population; although young, these brave sons and daughters stand in steadfast support of their military parents through moves and deployments on behalf of our country; and WHEREAS, Established in 1986, the Month of the Military Child is part of the legacy left by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, and underscores the important role military children play in the armed forces community; and WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy, the Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome; and WHEREAS, The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) joins the Department of Defense and the military community in celebrating April as the Month of the Military Child; in DoDEA communities around the world, the most essential strategic imperatives are: establishing an educational system that progressively builds the college and career readiness of all DoDEA students; and establishing the organizational capacity to operate more effectively and efficiently as a model, unified school system; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, this vital organization aims to challenge each student to maximize his or her potential and to excel academically, socially, emotionally and physically for life, college and career readiness; and WHEREAS, Throughout the month, DoDEA will encourage schools to plan special events to honor military children; these efforts and special events will stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle; and WHEREAS, Purple is the color which symbolizes all branches of the military; when combined, Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue, make purple; consequently, Monday, April 15, 2023, has been designated as Purple Up Day, a day for communities across the country to wear purple to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices; and WHEREAS, Military children exemplify the potential inherent in our most precious resource, our youth; they have brought enduring honor to their families and their communities through their many sacrifices and achievements; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2025, as the Month of the Military Child in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.