Senator John Thune

As a country, we take special opportunities to thank the men and women in uniform who bravely defend our freedoms at home and abroad. These heroes deserve our gratitude and praise for the work they do throughout the world to keep us safe. While we remember our troops, we sometimes forget about family members waiting in the wings and holding down the fort for those serving on behalf of our country. Thousands of military children share their moms and dads with us each and every day. Their unsung sacrifice, which comes at the expense of basketball games, birthdays, and parent-teacher conferences, helps to ensure that America remains the greatest nation in the world.

Since 1986, April has been designated as the Month of the Military Child to honor the sacrifice and show support for the millions of military children who’ve shared their parents with the U.S. armed forces. There are currently around 1.2 million children of American military service members. These children, who often adapt to new schools or take on additional household responsibilities, make daily sacrifices and face unique challenges that sometimes go unnoticed by classmates, teammates, and friends.

As members of our communities, we can do more to show our support for military children and families. Whether cheering them on at the track meet, inviting them over for a family dinner, or taking them around on the first day of school, each of us can provide a source of comfort, friendship, and support to a child in need. You can also consider donating items or volunteering for an organization that supports military families. Big or small, the work you do in service to our military children serves as a reminder that we are thankful for their sacrifice and our community is here to support them.

Our military children deserve our support, respect, and our thanks. I invite all South Dakotans to join me in keeping military children throughout South Dakota and our nation in their prayers.