STUTTGART, Germany, Apr 9, 2009 — Teammates,

During April, the "Month of the Military Child," I ask you to pay special attention to our most precious members of our community -- our children who provide unconditional love and support to our military/civilian family.

This month gives us a chance to reflect upon the many conditions children of military families face, including frequent moves, family separations, and uncertainty. These children learn at a young age to be patient and understanding when their moms, dads, and guardians miss their school recitals, extra-curricular activities, and other important events because they are called to duty. They are brave when a family member deploys to a place far away from home. And they are strong when saying goodbye to good friends and teachers and beginning again in a new place they will soon call home.

In this, we can celebrate their strength, flexibility, and adaptability. They have seen much more of the world and experienced many more cultures than many of their peers in the United States. They are engaged in a wide range of host nation events, cultural activities, sports, and volunteer work. Their enthusiasm and joy reflects upon all of us, and make positive contributions to our quality of life.

This is also true of the children of our civilian employees and interagency teammates and colleagues, who I would also like to recognize. They share many of the same situations and opportunities, often without the social support networks that we enjoy in the military community.

There are a variety of activities taking place throughout the month, ranging from arts and crafts to scavenger hunts, movies, and family trips, all of which are offered through U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart. I invite you to visit http://www.stuttgart.army.mil/sites/local/ for a complete schedule of events.

To those children in our overseas families, I salute you for your bravery, patience, and loyalty. We are proud of the contributions each of you is making where you live.