April marked the Nation’s “Month of the Military Child”, a time to honor youth impacted by deployment.
 In celebration, Alabama Operations: Military Kids and 4-H Youth Development celebrated a Purple Up! For military Kids Pizza Party!  held on Friday April 13th.
The party was coordinated by Izette McNealy, 4-H Youth Development Regional Extension Agent and 4-H Operations Military Kids State Coordinator Rachel Simpson. Mrs. Simpson shared that more than 32,000 of Alabama youth are “military kids” with parents and other loved ones serving in active duty, reserve units or the National Guard. 1500 youth and adults in Jefferson County wrote letters to our Military Youth thanking them for the bravery of their parents, sisters, brothers, for protecting our beautiful United States of America!  The schools and businesses participating are as follows:

 Glenn Oaks Elementar

Fairfield Board of Education
Holy Family Elementary
Green Acres Elementary
Daniel Payne Middle School
A.H. Parker High School
Birmingham Public Library, Five Points West, Avondale and Smithfield locations
Little Caesars even wore purple to deliver the pizzas.

    Barbara McDonald, retired, said in her letter that she wants to thank military youth for sharing their parents! “Thank-you for your unselfishness in sharing your parents to our country!”  
 Delilah, 4th grader wrote letters at Avondale Library and she wrote, “I will always love you for what you are doing!”  Denisha, Parker High School 9th grader stated that she would write 100 letters celebrating our military!  
 Everyone across the state of Alabama was encouraged to wear purple as a visible way to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Coast Guard, Air Force and Navy blue and Marine red.   
 Service men and women are the life blood of our freedom today!  The goal of the celebration was to see the support of the community for military children and the OMK program! Our goal was met!  

Izette McNealy