Purple Up! Day

Children of military families face obstacles that most typical children of civilian families do not have to deal with. From having to move very often to dealing with a parent being deployed, the military family lifestyle can be very challenging.

These kids can learn some very important lessons along the way, but they also need the support of their families and communities around them. 

Purple Up! For Military Kids Day is a super opportunity to give special honor and attention to these unique children.

History of Purple Up! For Military Kids Day

Purple Up! For Military Kids Day was started in 2011 by the New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Military Youth and Family Program as an education activity for the children of people who serve in the military. Later it was adopted by the entire Department of Defense.

The idea behind the day is for everyone to take part by showing support and appreciation for military kids through wearing purple. The color purple is meant to acknowledge the strength military children have and the sacrifices they make because of the lifestyle of their military parent.

In the military, the color purple can have some different meanings but, in this case, it is likely related to the connection with all branches of military and inclusive of civilians as well.

The idea is that all of the service colors are represented, including Army green, Navy blue, Marine red and Coast Guard blue – combined together to make purple.

This day is part of a larger campaign to acknowledge these kids during the month of April, known as the Month of the Military Child.

This event was established as a Defense-wide commemoration in 1986 and has grown to include Purple Up! For Military Kids Day as well as various other events. 

How to Celebrate Purple Up! For Military Kids Day

Make a difference in the experience of military families and show support by participating in Purple Up! For Military Kids Day. Consider some of these ideas to get started with celebrating:

Purple Up!

This is the day to get dressed in purple in honor of all families with military kids. Wearing purple might simply mean donning a purple t-shirt or purple ribbon on a jacket.

Or it could certainly mean going all out and wearing purple head-to-toe. Kids, teachers, parents, grandparents and anyone who wants to show support for military kids can enjoy this day simply by wearing purple and using it as an opportunity to talk about how great military kids are!

Host an Assembly for Military Kids

Schools, youth clubs and other community groups can get involved with Purple Up! For Military Kids Day by creating opportunities for gathering and publicly acknowledging the children of military families in their community.

This might mean hosting an assembly at school where military children are honored and their parents are also invited to participate. Or it could mean asking the whole school to get involved by wearing purple on this important day.

Facts About Purple Up! Day

Hidden Global Population of Military-Connected Children

Researchers estimate that more than 4 million children worldwide have at least one parent serving in the U.S. military community, including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, and veterans, and roughly 1.6 million of these children are in active-duty families alone.

This “hidden” population is spread across all 50 states and over 100 countries, which means many military-connected students attend civilian schools that may not immediately recognize their unique needs.  

Frequent Moves Outpace Most Civilian Families

Military children typically move six to nine times before finishing high school, which is about three times more often than their civilian peers.

These relocations can interrupt friendships, extracurricular activities, and coursework, especially when states or countries follow different academic standards and graduation requirements.  

Deployment-Related Stress and Mental Health

Studies have found that children of deployed service members are at increased risk for anxiety, behavioral problems, and emotional difficulties compared with children in civilian families, particularly during long or repeated deployments.

One large study published in Pediatrics reported more outpatient mental health visits among military children during parental deployment, especially for school-age youth.  

Academic Challenges and Achievement Gaps

Because of curriculum differences and frequent school changes, military-connected students can face gaps in learning, especially in math and reading, yet many still perform at or above national averages on standardized tests.

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has reported that its students, most of whom are children of active-duty personnel, consistently meet or exceed U.S. national norms in core subjects, suggesting resilience despite educational disruptions.  

Interstate Compact for Military Children

To address problems such as credit transfer, course placement, and eligibility for sports and activities, U.S. states created the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children in 2006.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have now adopted this agreement, which sets common rules to reduce the impact of school moves on military-connected students, including expedited enrollment and flexible graduation requirements.   

Impact Aid and Federal Support to School Districts

Since many military installations reduce the local property tax base that typically funds public schools, the U.S. Congress established the Impact Aid program in 1950 to help districts that educate large numbers of military-connected students.

Today, Impact Aid continues to provide billions of federal dollars to thousands of school districts, helping to pay for staff, special education services, transportation, and other supports that benefit military children.  

Purple as a Joint-Service Color 

Within the U.S. defense community, the term “purple” is used to describe joint-service efforts that include multiple branches of the armed forces working together rather than operating separately.

This idea of “purple” as a blending of Army green, Navy blue, Marine Corps red, Air Force blue, and Coast Guard blue reflects a cultural shift since the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, which pushed the military toward more integrated, cross-branch cooperation.