Month of the Military Child
Issue No. 012 - April 2026
The Month of the Military Child
This April we celebrate the children of our armed forces with The Month of the Military Child. The annual campaign is dedicated to recognizing the strength, resilience, and spirit of military children.
In 1986, then Sectary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, put forth an initiative to underscore the important role military children have, the unique challenges they face and ensure that their contributions are recognized.
Military children have unique needs. distinct experiences. and navigate extraordinary obstacles compared with peers of the same age. Military children endure frequent relocations, the difficulties of changing schools, and the emotional impact of parental deployment.
Here are 5 facts about military children according to the Military One Source and the U.S. Department of War:
- There are 1.6 Million Military Children
- 2 Million children have experienced a parental deployment since 2001.
- Military families move every 2 – 3 years.
- Nearly 80% of military children attend public schools.
- Military children are 2x as likely to join the military when they become adults.
The Month of the Military Child is not only a reminder of the sacrifices military children make, but the month also gives us an opportunity to celebrate their strength and resilience to bloom wherever they are planted.
Thank You to all the military children!
March Recap
This past month of March we had very exciting things happen. Check out what Coffee4VETS has been up to.
12th Maintenance Group’s MPOY 2025 awards
Coffee4VETS was honored to be the VIP guest at the 412th Maintenance Group’s MPOY 2025 awards today. Congratulations to all the winners. This event was a great celebration of the Air Force MXG’s backbone. Thank you, CMSG Joe Holdcroft, for the invitation.
Adopt-A-Plane
Coffee4VETS proudly attended its first Adopt-A-Plan Event at Joe Davis Heritage Airpark. We enthusiastically adopted the F-4D Plane and took on the noble responsibility of clearing the area of weeds and debris. We did a phenomenal job in making our area the crown jewel of the park, as visitors from around the world marvel at the Park’s beauty. Kudos to our C4V Board members Juan, Tony, Elvie, and my Mom Edith for their unwavering dedication. And yes the historian and photographer me. Fun work.
Palmdale High School Interview Project
We also had the privilege of helping a few students from Palmdale High School with their senior project.
Thank You Nathan Vega and Team for inviting us to be a part of your project.
Celebrating Outstanding Women of the AV
For International Women’s Day, Ms. Sandra Avery submitted Artherine Blanco for Celebrating Outstanding Women of the AV.
Thank You Ms. Sandra for your thoughtfulness.
Vet Talk
Vet Talk is the brainchild of Juan Blanco, Coffee4VETS’ founder and president. Juan started Vet Talk during the pandemic as a way to help veterans work through the difficulties of being isolated, sheltering at home, and social distancing. Vet Talk became crucial in keeping the veteran community connected.
In continuing with the same spirit of keeping the veteran community connected. Vet Talk is being relaunched. The series will feature 1 monthly question answered by our Veteran community. The monthly question will cover a broad scope of topics, ranging from their lives before, during, and after service.
This month’s question is: What has been your biggest take away from your military service?
Thank You E-5 Reginal Washington (Army: 1993 – 2001: Retired) for your service and for taking the time to answer this month’s question.
President's Message
Welcome to April.
The month of April has recognition days we seldom recall aside from Palm Sunday and Easter and of course, TAX Day, but we have other events during the month that deserve remembering. Of course, the first is the 1st of April also known as April Fool’s Day. Not an official holiday but a day in which mild pranks may be performed on friends and families nationwide. Other days to remember is the 4th, the day President Linclon’s was assassination, and April 6th commemorating the American Civil War and how we as a nation struggled to find itself along the way as a new and fledgling nation and the 1898 Spanish American War.
In this month we have Emancipation Day observed in Washington DC, Patriots Day Celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine, Jackie Robinson Day that honor the integration of baseball in America, Arbor Day and Earth Day bringing awareness to the global environment and through education and volunteer opportunity. There is also Autism Awareness Day, campaigns to bring light to and support of the acceptance of autism.
Recently, in the veteran community there have been discussions over two new flags. The Honor and Remembrance flag, meant to serve as a public reminder of the lives given and the sacrifices made by veterans and their families, and the Suicide Awareness flag. There is talk that there may be legislation introduce to recognize the Honor and Remembrance flag and to have it flown alongside the POW/MIA flag. However, there are those who feel that the Gold Star Family flag is already the symbol of honoring those lost in battle and that this new flag is not necessary.
I recognize all our veterans who put on the uniform of the United States armed forces from all wars and conflicts in which our nation was engaged and finding ways to show our gratitude is always welcomed and ongoing.
On Tuesday March 3rd, Coffee4VETS attended the Palmdale City Council meeting at 5 pm in chambers and presented to the 5 city councilmembers with certificates of appreciation for their dedication to our veteran community and for being a city who values our veteran’s and who select and honor each year a veteran of the year. Of the six years of veterans who have been selected for this honor, two have been members of the Coffer4VETS non-profit breakfast program.
I am pleased to announce that this month we added a new member to our Coffee4VETS board. United States Army 2nd Lt. Nonna Waterman who currently serves as President of the Veterans Information Center, a nonprofit working towards the betterment of our veteran community. Welcome aboard 2nd LT Waterman.
In closing I wish all a very happy and safe Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Holy Thursday and Saturday, a peaceful Good Friday, Easter and Passover. And we keep our service members who are being deployed into harm’s way in prayer that they perform their duties and return home safe to their families.
May Almighty continue to keep our great nation safe from all adversary’s
Juan Blanco
Our Moto: “Honoring Our Veterans of Yesterday Who Secured Our Today.”
Our Purpose: Pride of Service
Highlight of The Month
March 2026
Happy Birthday
A Very Happy Birthday from Coffee4VETS!
Save the Date
We Invite You to Join Us
Join us for our weekly Coffee4VETS event! Veterans and active-duty military can enjoy FREE coffee and 1/2 off breakfast!
Date: Every Tuesday
Time: 7 A.M – 9 A.M
Where: Crazy Otto’s Diner at 1228 W. Ave I, Lancaster, CA
Date: 1st and 3rdThursday of the month at the
Where: Crazy Otto’s Diner at 19132 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA
FREE Groceries for ACTIVE DUCTY and VETERANS
Date: Mondays
Time: 6 P.M – 8 P.M
Where: Wayside Church
April observances
Mark Your Calendars
Month of the Military Child
Military Saves Month aims to assist servicemen and women, along with their families, in building personal wealth by reducing debt and establishing savings goals.
Happy April’s Fool’s Day
Gold Star Spouses refer to the surviving loved ones of military members who lost their lives in the line of duty. Gold Star Spouses Day was created to honor these loved ones.
National Former POW Recognition Day serves to recognize the courage and endurance of American service members who were captured during wartime.
Happy Birthday U.S. Air Force Reserve!!!
Purple Up Day encourages everyone to wear purple, the combination of the colors from all military branches, to show appreciation for the children of our service members.
Jackie Robinson Day celebrates not only the legacy and historical achievement of the first black baseball player in America, but it also salutes the lasting cultural impact Jackie Robinson had on our nation.
Emancipation Day is an annual holiday celebrated in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act by President Abraham Lincoln.
Patriot’s Day recognizes the battles of Lexington and Concord. In addition, the day also acknowledges the effect of the “shot heard ’round the world.”
Happy Earth Day!
Happy Birthday U.S. Army Reserve!!!
Military Brats Day is celebrated to honor the children of military families for their resilience and sacrifices.
Coffee4VETS, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that operates by the generous donations from individuals and other non-profit organizations. Thank you for visiting our page.
Previous Coffee4VETS Newsletters
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