Outgoing state Senator Jimmy Higdon started Military Kids Day back in 2017 to honor children of military parents.

He wanted them to understand just how special they are and how the state recognizes the sacrifices they make every day.

Today, the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection introduced Senate Resolution 103, which recognizes and honors the children of military families.

My name is Delta Lee, and my mom and dad were in the National Guard.

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly.

Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Senate recognizes and honors the children of military families.

On this Military Kids day.

February 19th, 2026.

Well, military Kids Day back.

Years ago, when I was chairman of the Veterans Military Public Protection Committee, one of my constituents, Molly Mattingly, mentioned to me, we recognize veterans and we Veterans Day, and we recognized all kinds of groups.

But there's one special group that we don't recognize, and that's military kids.

And, you know, they make great sacrifices.

Their parents are deployed, and they had to move from where they're comfortable to another state or to another country.

So, you know, it is tough being a military kid.

Move on to show them some love and let them know that they're special.

It's a special field trip to honor us because it's Military Kids Day, and it's just special for us because we have military dad, mom, Nana, grandpa, grandma, which are really like helpful to us.

And they serve and they had to spend their precious time short of the world.

My dad worked in the military.

Manana was in the Navy.

My poppy was in the Desert storm fight.

He drives the tank.

And then I just keep on going.

Your experiences make you a better person.

You guys learn to make friends quickly.

You learn to judge character quickly.

Most importantly, you learn the importance of duty, honor, integrity, and serving your country because your parents instilled in you.

You live it every day.

So I want kids to take away from the day that that we recognize that they're special.

We we that's that is the main point of this is that we recognize them as being special and that they understand they are special.

And hopefully we impress upon them that public service is, you know, just like being in the military.

It's a special thing to do.

And so hopefully one of them that will be inspired today to be a state representative, state senator, you know, be governor, or even president of the United States.

Anything's possible.

And these kids certainly, have a good start to to be good public servants.

They certainly do.

The event has grown from around 20 to 40 participants back in 2017 to about 250 today.