Purple Up for Military Kids On Friday, April 15th. Purple Pride Doesn’t Always Mean You Are A Vikings Fan.

John Harris Elementary School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota will be the spot for Governor Dennis Daugaard to kick off 'Purple Up for Military Kids' on Friday, April 15th.

Governor  Daugaard and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Larry Zimmerman will officially kick off the 2014 South Dakota “Purple Up for Military Kids” campaign during an assembly in the gym of the John Harris Elementary School starting at 2 o'clock.

Parents, students, teachers and businesses and organizations in all communities are being asked to wear the color purple in support of military families.  It's also a way to say thanks to all military children for their strength and sacrifices.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Larry Zimmerman says that many children in South Dakota feel the effects of parents being mobilized to the war on terrorism.

With over 7,500 military children in South Dakota, it is important that we honor these young heroes who have given so much.  Record numbers of National Guard, Army Reserve and other military parents living in South Dakota communities have been mobilized during the War on Terrorism. Community members, educators, friends and family are an important part to a child’s successful navigation of the deployment cycle.

The Month of the Military Child was originally established in 1986 by Casper Weinberger, with the goal of recognizing the important role military children play in our communities.