Team Dyess salutes the children of our Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Dyess Child Development Center and Youth Center held several events throughout the month of April in celebration of Month of the Military Child.

The contributions of military children were celebrated across the Defense Department as April is designated the Month of the Military Child. At Dyess, the CDC and Youth Center held sports programs, egg hunts and ended the month with their annual parade.

"Our children are our true heroes," said Kaci Harrison, Child Development Center director. "They sacrifice daily based on the choices their parent or parents made. It is important to recognize their commitment to their families and the military ways of life alongside their parents."

The base and community has come together for many events in showing support for military children.

Throughout the month, the commissary held multiple drawings for Easter baskets and several schools had a day where the students wore purple to signify a mix of all colors of the armed services to show support and say thank you to military children.

At the April art walk, the school liaison officer gave away books about the military child to military and local families to promote awareness of the sacrifices military children make and to celebrate their many accomplishments.

"We support our military children and do anything we can to promote awareness of their sacrifices," said Diane Russell, Dyess school liaison officer. "Sometimes they get overlooked in the military lifestyle, and we want to make sure everyone knows what being a military child is like."
The school liaison officer and exceptional family member program also had booths at the Base Exchange and gave away books in conjunction with Month of the Military Child, Autism Awareness and Child Abuse Awareness month.

"The children of Dyess are the anchors for their military member," Harrison said. "They are reminders to the military member of what is important in life and why they are fighting to maintain."

The youth center also held many sports programs during April and more will be accomplished throughout the year. While the events the Youth Center and CDC have planned are important, Harrison added, the focus of the event is really on the children.

"We have been involved in combat operations overseas for more than a decade now," Harrison said. "A lot of these children have spent many months away from their parents or have moved several times; they know nothing else. It is even more important today to hold these events to recognize our youth for their sacrifices."

For more information on the Month of the Military Child, visit http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2014/0414_militarychild/.