There are nearly 2 million children who have a family member serving in the United States military.

Many times, people forget that these boys and girls put on a brave face in the absence of a parent who is deployed or training away from home.

To honor these children, Carbon County has named April as “The Month of the Military Child.”

Georgeann Herling, president of the Weatherly American Legion Post 360 Auxiliary, said that 87 percent of children in Pennsylvania do not live near an active military installation, meaning that if they have a family member serving in the military, they don’t have the benefit of the support system military installations provide.

“We need to show them that we care, show them that we love them and that we appreciate their sacrifices,” Herling said.

Because of this, April 18 has been set aside specifically to remember these children through Purple Up Day.

“These children and youths are sources of pride and honor to us all,” the proclamation states. “It is fitting we take time to recognize their contributions, celebrate their spirit and let our men and women in uniform know while they are taking care of us, we are taking care of their children.”

Herling explained that the color purple was chosen because it is a blend of all the colors of the military branches — Army green, Air Force blue, Navy blue, Coast Guard blue and Marines red.

She said to honor the sacrifices 35 Weatherly area children make, the auxiliary will hold a Purple Up Day event at the middle school at 9 a.m. on April 8.

“We want to let them know people are thinking of them and care about them,” Herling said.

The county asks all residents to display a purple ribbon on their doors, porch railing and windows, as well as to wear purple on April 18 as a way to honor military children.