A month of celebrating children and youth

The American Legion has celebrated "April is Children & Youth Month" for the past 77 years by supporting and promoting its national theme – "Children... Our Most Precious Natural Resource." During this month of celebration, American Legion Family members are encouraged to show their local communities the Legion’s commitment to young people by hosting youth activities or by becoming involved in programs and organizations that support young people.

For ideas on how to support and promote Children & Youth Month in your community, download a copy of the "April is Children & Youth Month" brochure here.

Legion Family members can promote Children & Youth Month awareness through their local newspapers, radio and TV stations, civic groups, schools, social media, and in conversations with other veterans and their families. Communities need to know that American Legion services are available and why young people matter so much to us.

For the past four years, Legion Family members at American Legion Post 371 in Valparaiso, Neb., have hosted an event in late April at the post for Operation Military Kids and other local community youth. The children enjoy lunch, firetruck and hay rides, crafts, a petting zoo, a bouncy house, face painting and a magic show. They also write Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards for their deployed parents and visit with members of the state and local police department.

"Our intentions were to give the kids the experience of meeting a deputy in person in a friendly atmosphere so if there was ever a time of need, they would not be intimidated with talking with a law official," said Don Suchy, member of Post 371 and the national commander’s aide.

Suchy’s wife and Auxiliary Unit 371 member, Marge, said, "The afternoon is a very rewarding experience for the children and youth, as well as the volunteers. Our goal is to provide an afternoon of fun for all the kids with a lifetime of memories."

Last April, Sons of The American Legion Squadron 331 in Omaha, Neb., donated 186 GI Josh Dog gift sets to patients at the local Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. The squadron raised nearly $7,000 to purchase the GI Josh Dog gift sets, which featured a golden retriever toy dog, a dog house and a book called "I’ll Be O.k." Squadron 331 members and several other Legion Family members delivered the dogs to every child at the hospital to bring them comfort, security and compansionship during their road to recovery.