[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 6, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 17675-17676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07165]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 6, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 17675]]

                Proclamation 10165 of March 31, 2021

                
Month of the Military Child, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                April marks the Month of the Military Child, when our 
                Nation pays tribute to the resilience and tenacity of 
                our military children; over 2 million active duty, 
                National Guard, Reserve and children of veterans who 
                did not make the choice to serve, but live each day 
                supporting their brave parents. These young people live 
                out the words of the poet John Milton, ``they also 
                serve who only stand and wait.'' We see their service 
                and thank them for it.

                From a young age, children of service members sometimes 
                endure long separations from their parents and shoulder 
                the burdens of service. They spend holidays and 
                milestones apart from those they love the most, or 
                celebrate with only a short phone call or virtual chat 
                from a faraway parent. This is something the First Lady 
                and I have witnessed in our own lives, as our 
                grandchildren experienced their father's deployment to 
                Iraq.

                Military children change schools up to nine times 
                between the start of kindergarten and high school 
                graduation. With each move, they grapple with difficult 
                goodbyes and the challenge of making new friends. 
                Although life in a military family can include 
                exploring new places and exposure to other cultures and 
                customs, it can also bring frustration and loneliness. 
                During the Month of the Military Child, we show our 
                appreciation for the commitment and service of military 
                children in shouldering these challenges, and we 
                recognize the stressors on military children brought 
                about by the unique demands of their parents' military 
                life.

                The strength of our Armed Forces comes not just from 
                those who wear the uniform, but from their families, 
                who also serve on behalf of our country. As a Nation, 
                we have many obligations, but we have only one truly 
                sacred obligation: to properly prepare and equip our 
                troops when we send them into harm's way, and to care 
                for them and their families. The First Lady and I 
                understand the gravity of this promise personally, and 
                we have made supporting service members, veterans, 
                their families, caregivers, and survivors a top 
                priority for my Administration.

                That is why the First Lady has committed to relaunching 
                the Joining Forces initiative, mobilizing all Americans 
                to continue the national commitment to support and 
                engage our military families. By raising awareness 
                about the unique aspects of military life and working 
                toward solutions to its challenges, my Administration 
                will continue to support military children and will 
                help ensure that they have opportunities to grow and 
                live out their dreams.

                Observing the Month of the Military Child demonstrates 
                our support for military children who make daily 
                sacrifices so their parents can keep our Nation safe. 
                Military-connected children are strong and resilient, 
                and we must match their strength with a commitment to 
                provide the full support of our communities and our 
                Government. I encourage all Americans to serve them as 
                well as they serve us.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2021 as 
                the

[[Page 17676]]

                Month of the Military Child. I call upon the people of 
                the United States to honor military children with 
                appropriate ceremonies and activities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                fifth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2021-07165
Filed 4-5-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P