by Mrs. Laureen Laumeyer
“Purple Up! For Military Kids” was celebrated at St. James on Friday, April 24, 2026, to raise awareness and show appreciation for the resilience of our military students, who often move frequently, and honor their sacrifices. Eva White, a fifth grader in Mrs. Workman’s class puts it this way, “You have to be brave enough to say good-bye and hello a lot.” The color purple represents the joint effort of all military branches, showing that our students are supported regardless of which branch their parent serves. The initiative was started by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Military Youth and Family Program in 2011, and St. James is proud to continue this tradition.
Before even entering the building, American Flags and Military Service Members greeted the students in the drop-off line. Sign Dreamers of Hardin County created a large yard sign stating, “SJS Loves our Military.” Once inside the door, the students “Walked the Purple Carpet” of honor down the hallways streaming with purple decorations. Military Service Members entertained our preschoolers by reading to them and Courtney Fleck made and donated Purple M&M cookies for every student at St. James. Military students were encouraged to share their experiences with their classmates. London Tackett, another fifth grader, reflected that, “The best part about being a military kid is getting to live in different places and experience new cultures. Also, it’s nice to know that your parents are fighting for America.” Amelia, a fourth grader in Ms. Grant’s class put it this way, “Being a military kid is the best, because what the military person does is awesome!”
Military kids have learned to navigate change early in their lives. They have the ability to face challenges head-on, equipping them to handle life situations with resilience, confidence, and grace. St. James is honored to have these students as part of our community. In the words of fifth grader Asher Rollins, “I love being a military kid so much and I would not want to be anything else in the world.”
You can view photos of the day here.