Charles Barnum Elementary School in Groton Honors Military Children on Purple Up Day

Military members and their families make tremendous sacrifices for the security and safety of our nation. Among them are military-connected children, who often face frequent transitions during their K-12 careers.

Recognizing these sacrifices, Charles Barnum Elementary School in Groton came together in April, the Month of the Military Child to celebrate Purple Up, which is a nationwide event dedicated to honoring military children and showing support for the unique challenges they face.

To kick off Purple Up Day, students participated in a special bracelet-making activity. Using purple beads and an anchor symbol, the students crafted bracelets to wear throughout the day. The purple beads symbolized Purple Up Day, while the anchor represented the students' connection to one another and the feeling of safety and support they find within the school community.

In addition to making bracelets, each class participated in a special lesson led by a military student. The lesson included reading a book together, followed by an interactive activity. Students were encouraged to create a feather that represented what it meant to be a military child or a friend of a military child. These feathers were then arranged into two large wings, with the words "roots to grow, wings to fly" displayed prominently. The wings serve as a visual representation of the support and encouragement provided to military children as they navigate life's journey.

The wings are now displayed in a highly visible area of the school, serving as a reminder of the strength and resilience of military families.

Another returning activity for Purple Up Day was the "PURPLE UP CB!" fence. Each year, students tie ribbons to the fence to spell out the words "PURPLE UP CB!" This year was no different, and the fence was once again adorned with colorful ribbons, creating a beautiful display of support and solidarity.

The significance of purple was not lost on the participants of Purple Up Day. Purple combines the colors of all branches of the military into one: the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard all use shades of blue, the Army uses green, and the Marines use red. By wearing purple, students, teachers, and staff at Charles Barnum Elementary School paid tribute to the collective sacrifices made by military families across the country.