Event to celebrate military children, families

BREVARD COUNTY — Often enough there are national holidays, social media posts, commercials and what have you that thank our military.

This April, the local nonprofit American Veterans Empowerment Team (AVET) Project will celebrate the military child who has made their own sacrifice for the country in a way.

The public is invited to AVET Project’s event celebrating the military child with a buffet dinner and activities from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, April 1 at the Cocoa Beach Country Club, 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd.

Admission is $25 for adults and children under 17 eat free when accompanied by a parent.

AVET Project is a nonprofit organization that aims to help provide resources for veterans and bring awareness to the needs of servicemen and women.

Whether you belong to a military family or not, event organizers are offering an open invitation to come learn about life as a military child, play some games, and have a fun time.

“Even though veterans and active-duty veterans often get play in the media, when it comes to the children and the families, it’s really never a consideration,” said Garren Cone, founder of AVET Project.

Mr. Cone continued, “This has been going on since back in the day of Caspar Weinberger, secretary of defense. He instituted the Month of the Military Child to try and bring some focus on the sacrifices that the military children make as their mom, dad or both in the military travel across the world.”

Military children often change schools about once every two to three years, which means making new friends and saying goodbye to them without always keeping in touch.

On the positive side, children are exposed to different cultures when they move, and they get to make memories from each location that other children won’t get to experience until adulthood.

For a child, it can also mean adjusting to a life where a parent or both are away for long periods of their life while they serve. In some cases, a parent may be killed in action.

Children don’t always understand the sacrifice they make, it’s just a way of life for them. Having support by organizations like AVET Project is a positive impact that lets them and their families know they’re not alone.

This will be the inaugural Month of the Military Child event by AVET Project, which has returned from a hiatus and will focus on the underserved affect by military life: female veterans, military children and families. Coast Guard units, and others.

“This event is a fun event, geared completely toward the family,” Mr. Cone said. “There’s going to be a variety of activities, including a STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] station.”

Purple is the color associated with the Month of the Military Child, so there will be lots of people wearing purple shirts around, and others are encouraged to do the same.

The nonprofit is active in its volunteer efforts, from feeding the troops to helping with events such as this one.

To get involved or to learn more about AVET Project, visit avet-project.org.