Proclamation, parade celebrates military’s youngest warriors

April is the month, which the nation has set aside to recognize the sacrifices 1.8 million military children endure as a result of active-duty parents transitioning during permanent and temporary deployments.

The cadence of drummers, chants of cheerleaders and the voices of child development center students, base personnel, parents and guests echoed outside the CDC as Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s officials kicked off its Month of the Military Child celebration, April 10.

Dorothy Bryant, director, CDC, MCLB Albany, commented on the significance of the Month of the Military Child recognition and proclamation signing.

“This is important because of the years of service military [personnel has devoted to] the country and scarified for their families,” Bryant said. “Our staff, community and [Department of Defense] civilian families recognize and honor them for making this a better world. The proclamation represents our celebration of the Month of the Military Child parade annually.”

At the ceremony, Lt. Col. Nathaniel Robinson, executive officer, MCLB Albany, remarked on the purpose and importance of the annual recognition as well as the significance of the proclamation.

“The Month of the Military Child shows that we recognize the impact that military life has on our children,” said Robinson. “It gives us the opportunity to recognize the sacrifices our children make as a result of being the son or daughter of a service member."

“The big takeaway is that family readiness is a key component to operational readiness,” Robinson pointed out. “The proclamation signing is a tangible example of the installation's commitment to our service members' families and we have a number of programs we offer through [Marine Corps Community Services] that can assist our military children with the stresses of military life.”

Robinson said he hoped both the military and civilian community fully understood what children of service members undergo throughout the duration of their parents’ active-duty careers.

“I hope to convey the message that the children of our service members experience stress and make sacrifices throughout their parents’ service,” Robinson added. “That we recognize the struggles they endure and we are committed to assisting them through their stress. [Finally, I hope], that the civilian community recognizes the sacrifices and contributions military children make in their communities.”

The base executive officer issued his final declaration to attendees before adjoining the initial ceremony.

“Now, let’s all go have some fun,” Robinson shouted, which thrust the celebration into full swing, as the crowd erupted into applause and cheers.

A motorcade of MCLB Albany’s police cars and fire trucks led personnel, parents, the CDC’s littlest warriors and the visiting band and cheerleaders from Westover High School in Albany, Georgia, in a parade processional from the center to Boyett Park where additional fun, food and festivities awaited.

According the DOD’s website, military children make up a very special part of our nation's population. These brave sons and daughters stand in steadfast support of their military parents through moves and deployments, and the Month of the Military Child is designated to honor the unique contributions and sacrifices they make on behalf of our country, the website further indicated.