III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. CON. RES. 27 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 14, 2005 Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Frist, Mr. Levin, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bond, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Reid, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Murray, and Mrs. Dole) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Honoring military children during “National Month of the Military Child”.

Whereas more than a million Americans are demonstrating their courage and commitment to freedom by serving in the Armed Forces of the United States; Whereas nearly 40 percent of the members of the Armed Forces, when deployed away from their permanent duty stations, have left families with children behind; Whereas no one feels the effect of those deployments more than the children of deployed service members; Whereas as of March 31, 2005, approximately 1,000 of these children have lost a parent serving in the Armed Forces during the preceding 5 years; Whereas the daily struggles and personal sacrifices of children of members of the Armed Forces too often go unnoticed; Whereas the children of members of the Armed Forces are a source of pride and honor to all Americans and it is fitting that the Nation recognize their contributions and celebrate their spirit; Whereas the National Month of the Military Child, observed in April each year, recognizes military children for their sacrifices and contributes to demonstrating the Nation’s unconditional support to members of the Armed Forces; Whereas in addition to Department of Defense programs to support military families and military children, a variety of programs and campaigns have been established in the private sector to honor, support, and thank military children by fostering awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices and the challenges they face; and Whereas a month-long salute to military children will encourage support for those organizations and campaigns established to provide direct support for military children and families: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) joins the Secretary of Defense in honoring the children of members of the Armed Forces and recognizes that they too share in the burden of protecting the Nation; (2) urges Americans to join with the military community in observing the National Month of the Military Child with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor, support, and thank military children; and (3) recognizes with great appreciation the contributions made by private-sector organizations that provide resources and assistance to military families and the communities that support them.