In recognition of April as Month of the Military Child, Operation Homefront hosted its Eighth Annual Military Child of the Year Award Ceremony here on Thursday, April 14. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered the keynote address, and senior leaders from each of the service branches were present. The Military Child of the Year Award is bestowed annually on six extremely deserving young Americans who have turned the challenges of frequent relocations, and deployments of loved ones, into a passion for excellence, service and helping others. This year, the inaugural Operation Homefront Innovation Award for Military Children sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton was presented to a seventh awardee. The event took place outside our nation’s capital in Arlington, Va.
2016 Military Child of the Year recipients were Lorelei McIntyre-Brewer, 10, Duncannon, Pa., representing the Army; Christian Fagala, 9, Quantico, Va., representing the Marine Corps; Jeffrey Burds, 17, Camp Lejeune, N.C., representing the Navy; Madeleine Morlino, 17, Moorestown, representing the Air Force; Keegan Fike, 17, Fairhaven, Mass., representing the Coast Guard; and John “Trip” Landon III, 17, Ellensburg, Wash., representing the National Guard. The 2016 Innovation Award winner is Elizabeth O’Brien, 17, Aberdeen, N.C.
The national nonprofit organization that builds strong, stable and secure military families annually gives the award to an outstanding military child from each branch of service — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the National Guard. Each award recipient receives $10,000. Ideal candidates for the Military Child of the Year Award demonstrate resilience and strength of character, and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life. They also demonstrate leadership within their families and within their communities.
Full biographies on the award recipients are available here: www.militarychildoftheyear.org/Recipients
The following video news release contains event highlights and is 12 minutes, 10 seconds:
