WASHINGTON — Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization, is accepting nominations for the 2016 Military Child of the Year awards.
Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.
The eighth annual awards will recognize six outstanding young people ages 8 to 18 to represent the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life, officials said.
On average, they added, previous recipients have had at least one parent deploy for 18 months or longer and have relocated at least five times due to a parent’s military assignments.
The six awardees will receive $10,000 each and a laptop computer and other donated gifts, and they will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington for an April 14 gala, during which senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards.
“It’s our honor to celebrate military children through the Military Child of the Year for the eighth consecutive year,” said Operation Homefront President and CEO John I. Pray, Jr. “Whether it’s in schools or honor societies, civic associations and clubs, sports or volunteerism, you never have to look far to find an exemplary military child who thrives in the face of challenges inherent to military life. As we open up the nomination window, please join us in celebrating the resilience, achievement and strength of character embodied by our youngest patriots and submit a nomination to recognize them today.”