S.Res. 107 — Agreed to in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 107 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 23, 2013 Mrs. Murray (for herself, Ms. Ayotte, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Heller, Mr. Manchin, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Pryor, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Warner, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Chambliss) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring military children during the National Month of the Military Child. Whereas more than 2,000,000 men and women are demonstrating their courage and commitment to freedom by serving in the Armed Forces of the United States; Whereas 43.9 percent of members of the Armed Forces, when deployed away from their permanent duty stations, leave families with children behind; Whereas no one feels the effect of deployments more than the children of deployed members of the Armed Forces; Whereas, as of March 2013, 4,802 children had lost a parent serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; Whereas the daily struggles and personal sacrifices of children of members of the Armed Forces too often go unnoticed; Whereas countless children live with a parent who is a member of the Armed Forces and who bears a visible or invisible wound of war; Whereas the children of members of the Armed Forces are a source of pride and honor to the people of the United States and it is fitting that the United States recognize their contributions and celebrate their spirit; Whereas the National Month of the Military Child, observed in April each year, recognizes military children for their sacrifices and contributes to demonstrating the unconditional support of the United States for members of the Armed Forces; Whereas, in addition to programs of the Department of Defense to support military families and military children, various programs and campaigns have been established in the private sector to honor, support, and thank military children by fostering awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices and the challenges they face; and Whereas a month-long salute to military children will encourage support for those organizations and campaigns established to provide direct support for military children and families: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate— (1) joins the Secretary of Defense in honoring the children of members of the Armed Forces and recognizes that those children also share in the burden of protecting the United States; and (2) urges the people of the United States to join with the military community in observing the National Month of the Military Child with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor, support, and thank military children.