FRANKFORT, Ky. — Thousands of Kentuckians serve in the armed forces, sacrificing time away from their families for our country. From National Guard to active duty, military kids were honored Tuesday at the state capitol building in Frankfort.
Tuesday marked the 11th Military Kids Day at the Capitol in Frankfort. Children of service members got to meet with lawmakers, tour the capitol and were recognized by both chambers for the sacrifices they make in addition to their parents serving our country.
From Army to Air Force, the day is all about honoring the kids, with at least one parent serving in one of the armed forces. State Senator Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, said it’s a special day for lawmakers every year.
“It’s a good day and it’s Military Kids Day in Frankfort. We’re proud of it,” Higdon said.
Senator Higdon said a constituent gave him the idea a few years ago. It’s a day recognizing the service and sacrifice kids of military parents make that other kids may not experience.
“They do make sacrifices; some of them today had lived in multiple school districts and even lived in different countries,” Higdon said.
Jacey Lyddan’s dad is in the Army National Guard and is currently deployed overseas. She said she moved seven times before the age of seven.
“It’s really tough when he’s deployed overseas, but it’s cool having friends who know what I’m going through,” Lyddan said.
Madison Wertzler’s dad is also in the Kentucky National Guard. She said he is away from home at least four months out of the year.
“It’s not just our parents serving, we also go through some things since our parents are in the military and I like that we get appreciated for that,” Wertzler said.
Kids started their day at the House Veterans Military Affairs and Public Protection committee meeting, then toured the capitol, served as pages in both chambers and flew virtual airplanes.
“It’s kind of hard. I think landing is the hardest part in my opinion because you have to move the controller in a specific way,” said Oliver Dickson, whose dad is in the Army National Guard.
Jazmyn Simmons has lived in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. She said this day is a great way to meet other kids around her age that have lived a similar experience of having one or both parents serving in the military.
“A lot of my friends; I’ve only got one friend who’s moved around multiple times and so everybody else doesn’t understand what it’s like having to move around multiple times in their life,” Simmons said.
Military kids and their families came from the Kentucky National Guard, Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. Military Kids Day has become an annual tradition at the Capitol, with around 80 to 100 kids attending every year it’s been held.