The Month of the Military Child is taking on new meaning throughout the Liberty County School System.

The school system and Bradwell Institute celebrated the Month of the Military Child during a ceremony April 1 at Bradwell, with children of soldiers donning purple — the color of the military child — and reflecting on the symbol of the military child, the dandelion. Dandelions are chosen since those plants can thrive wherever they are planted.

About 24% of the school system’s more than 11,000 students are classified as military-impacted.

Sierra Pinheiro, a Bradwell junior, also reflected on her life as a military child. She’s moved 10 times as a military child.

“When I hear the term military brat, there are a number of things that come to my mind,” she said. “Most of us who live the life of a military child, being a military brat means something far different than symbols or colors. I can share the values and lessons that come from growing up in a military family, lessons that stay with us for a lifetime. As a military child, we are taught early on what bravery really means.

“It’s not just about facing danger on the battlefield — it’s about facing change and separation and uncertainty with courage,” Pinheiro continued. “It’s about the quiet moments when you have to be strong because your family is being pulled in different directions. The sense of duty runs deep, teaching you to put the needs of your family and your country above your own. The sense of duty becomes part of your life. It is woven into your identity.”

Pinheiro also said military life reveals that bravery isn’t always about having physical courage.

“Often it is about adapting to new environments, supporting others and sacrificing your own comfort,” she said. “You come to understand that sometimes the greatest strength comes from selflessness. You learn that doing what’s best for others is not just vulnerable, it’s a privilege.”

Being a military child also means learning resilience, Pinheiro pointed out.

“Military children experience challenges that are unique to their own way of life,” she said. “We move, often every two years. But we don’t do move just physically; we move emotionally too.”

There are other facets of being a military child that are unique to the military, particularly lengthy and sometimes dangerous deployments of a military parent.

“Then there are deployments, long periods when our loved ones are gone, that uncertainty of not knowing when or if they will come back,” Pinheiro said. “These challenges test our resilience in ways most people would never understand.”

Military kids form an ability to stay strong and adapt to their circumstances, Pinheiro said.

“We learn to put down roots, even if the roots are temporary, and bloom in new places. We form lasting friendships and participate in new communities,” she said. “We make the most of every chapter of life, no matter how short it might be.”

The values of resilience, selflessness, sacrifice and duty do more than shape military kids, Pinheiro continued — they also connect military kids.

“This is what it means to be a military child,” she said. “This is what it means to be a military brat.”

Hinesville Mayor pro tem Vicky Nelson and Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus Marzett, the garrison command sergeant major, signed a proclamation for the Month of the Military Child.

State Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods is expected to return to Liberty County next month and bestow the military flagship school designation on the system’s final two schools. There also is a military family life counselor at each school.

“We are the first county in Georgia to have all our schools as military flagship schools,” Liberty County Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry said. “We are so proud of our military children. Our system really, really embraces them.”