Canadian Armed Forces Shilo Base Commander Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk high-fives a little helper from the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) in the Teal Up flag-raising ceremony on April 7 to celebrate April as the month of the Military child. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media

Bigs and littles from CFB Shilo shared high-fives all around at the Teal-Up flag-raising ceremony, honouring the Month of the Military Child, on April 7.

A crowd of more than 70 participants stood together at CFB Shilo’s main gate as the flag waved in the month, marking the Shilo created and now national recognition of military children’s resilience.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk, CFB Shilo Base Commander, said he grew up as a military child and having a whole month to recognize and support children whose lives are a little bit different due to the demands of parental service is essential.

“Something that is extra special is that this originated in Shilo. Our own folks at the MFRC got this off the ground, and it has now gone national … not only is it us as military members supporting our own community, but there is support from the outer community as well. It’s a great initiative,” he said.

Shannon Chapman, MFRC youth program coordinator, said the contribution of military children was often overlooked or forgotten prior to the initiative starting.

“Having a whole month to celebrate and encompass the Canadian military child is significant because it brings a reminder of how much the military child is affected in many ways different from other children.”

April is a month to celebrate the resilience of military youngsters under the Teal Up banner. They are most often associated with dandelions and the resiliency of the flower to be moved or ‘blown on the wind’ to various locations for re-rooting.

A group of littles help the bigs to raise the Teal-Up flag at CFB Shilo on April 7, honouring the month of the Military child. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media.

CFB Shilo military littles from the MRFC daycare attend the Teal-Up flag-raising ceremony on April 7 marking the month honouring the resilience of military children. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)